English
half-free
Half-free comes from Middle English *half-free, and goes back to Old English healffrēo.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150healffrēo
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*half-freereconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 2013half-free
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150healffrēo
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*half-freereconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 2013half-free
Earliest quotation: 2013, Matthew W. Cody: “Many half-free slaves were forced to continue to work…”
Every English word from Old English healffrēo
Today it means
adj Halfway or partially free.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English healffrēo / half-free