- semi-
- word-forming element from Latin semi- "half," from PIE *semi- (cf. Sanskrit sami "half," Greek hemi- "half," Old English sam-, Gothic sami- "half"). Old English cognate sam- was used in such compounds as samhal "poor health," literally "half-whole;" samsoden "half-cooked," figuratively "stupid" (cf. half-baked); samcucu "half-dead," literally "half-alive;" and the last survivor of the group, sandblind "dim-sighted" (q.v.). The Latin-derived form has been common in forming native words since 15c.