Related Searches
Nearby Words

semi-

 Origin

semi-

 
a combining form borrowed from Latin, meaning “half,” freely prefixed to English words of any origin, now sometimes with the senses “partially,” “incompletely,” “somewhat”: semiautomatic; semidetached; semimonthly; semisophisticated.
Origin:
Middle English < Latin sēmi-; cognate with Old English sōm-, sām- half (modern dial. sam-), Old High German sāmi-, Sanskrit sāmi-, Greek hēmi-; compare sesqui-

Usage note
See bi-1.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To semi-

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Semi- is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
semi-
 
—prefix
1.  demi- Compare hemi- half: semicircle
2.  partially, partly, not completely, or almost: semiprofessional; semifinal
3.  occurring twice in a specified period of time: semiannual; semiweekly
 
[from Latin; compare Old English sōm-, sām- half, Greek hēmi-]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

semi-
from L. semi- "half," from PIE *semi- (cf. Skt. sami "half," Gk. hemi- "half," O.E. sam-, Goth. sami- "half"). O.E. cognate sam- was used in such compounds as samhal "poor health," lit. "half-whole;" samsoden "half-cooked," figuratively "stupid" (cf. half-baked); samcucu "half-dead," lit. "half-alive;"
EXPAND
and the last survivor of the group, sand-blind "dim-sighted" (q.v.). The Latin-derived form has been common in forming native words since 15c.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

semi- pref.

  1. Half: semicanal.

  2. Partial; partially: semiconscious.

  3. Resembling or having some of the characteristics of: semilunar.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
semi-  
A prefix that means "half," (as in semicircle, half a circle) or "partly, somewhat, less than fully," (as in semiconscious, partly conscious).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT