English
semidocumentary
Semidocumentary comes from French documentaire ‘documentary’, from Latin documentum ‘instruction’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘to teach or instruct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocumentum‘instruction’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdocument
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdocumentaire‘documentary’
- English1500–presentdocumentary
- Englishtodaysemidocumentary
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘to teach or instruct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocumentum‘instruction’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdocument
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdocumentaire‘documentary’
- English1500–presentdocumentary
- Englishtodaysemidocumentary
A compound of semi- + documentary
Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
…
Latin doceō ‘to teach or instruct’
Latin documentum ‘instruction’
French document
French documentaire
English documentary
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
tail, decent, dignity, decoration, decor, paradox, disdain, dogma, indignation, fonda, dainty, indignant, décor, deign, digne, dignitary, 53 more
through Latin doceō ‘to teach or instruct’
doctor, doctrine, dodo, doctrinal, docile, docent, 15 more
through Latin documentum ‘instruction’
Today it means
noun a drama (film, book or TV) that presents a fictional story incorporating many factual details or actual events
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- / semidocumentary