English
semi-
Semi- comes from Proto-Indo-European *sēmi ‘half’, and goes back to *sem- ‘one’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘one’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sēmi‘half’reconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1994semi-
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘one’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sēmi‘half’reconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1994semi-
Earliest quotation: 1994, Eric Bogosian: “Nothing like a nice hot ethnic dish before you…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘one’
some, same, single, simple, simply, similar, soft, sam, seem, simulation, sincerely, singular, simultaneous, anomaly, simulate, sincerity, resemble, resemblance, assemble, anomalous, assimilate, homeopathic, homology, semblance, insincere, hyphen, synapse, simile, simulacrum, homolog, synchronise, sempre, 46 more
Today it means
prefix half
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sem- / semi-