| a combining form appearing in loanwords from French meaning “half” (demilune), “lesser” (demitasse), or sometimes used with a pejorative sense (demimonde); on this model, also prefixed to words of English origin (demigod). |
| demi- pref.
[Middle English demi, a half of a measure or unit, from Old French, from Medieval Latin dīmedius, from Latin dīmidius, divided in half : dis-, dis- + medius, half; see medium.] |
demi- pref.
Half: demilune.