Semi-, Demi-, and Hemi-

Semi-, Demi-, and Hemi- Semi-, Demi-, and Hemi- Semi-, Demi-, and Hemi- By Maeve Maddox A reader asks: †¨ Is there any rule for when to use semi and when to use half? The Latin prefix semi means half. The earliest semi- words documented in English are semicircular (1432-1450 and semi-mature (c.1440). Both William Langland (c.1332-c.1386) and Chaucer (c.1343-1400) use semi- constructions. According the OED, In the 16th-18th c., the number of permanent compounds was increased mainly by the accession of terms more or less technical [such as semicircle and semivowel]. Although theres no rule, sometimes half would be the better choice, as in this example from Fowler: This would be an immense gain over the existing fashion of a multitude of churches ill-manned semi-filled. Some common semi- words: semiabstract semiannual semiautomatic semicolon semiconscious Two other prefixes that mean half are hemi,-, from the Greek, and demi-, from Old French. In some English words, the French prefix is attached to an English word, as in demigod. Sometimes, as with demitasse and demimonde, the entire word is French. demimonde: n. The class of women of doubtful reputation and social standing, upon the outskirts of ‘society.’[Fr.; lit. ‘half-world’, ‘half-and-half society’, a phrase invented by Dumas the younger.] demitasse: n. a small coffee cup. [Fr., lit. ‘half-cup’] The prefix hemi is not as common as the other two. The most familiar word is hemisphere. Less common are words like hemicycle, hemistich, and hemitrope. In some contexts, the prefixes are used as nouns. Men in U.S. truck commercials rapturize over Hemi trucks. This use of hemi refers to a type of internal combustion engine that has a bowl-shaped or hemispherical combustion chamber. In England, a semi [sÄ•mÄ“] is a semi-detached house. In the U. S., a semi [sÄ•mÄ «] is a big truck of the tractor-trailer variety. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should KnowList of Greek Words in the English LanguageComma Before Too?