half-

See also: half and hálf-

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English half-, from Old English healf-, from Proto-Germanic *halba- (“half-”), from *halbaz (“half”). Cognate with Dutch half- (“half-”), German halb- (“half-”), Swedish halv- (“half-”), Icelandic hálf- (“half-”). More at half.

Prefix edit

half-

half or partial; not complete
Used before brother, sister, uncle, aunt, and so forth, to indicate that the person being identified is related only through one parent, grandparent, and so forth, rather than two.

Usage notes edit

Can be used to describe an exact half like in half-filled or half-price but can also be used in a more loose sense, for example half-awake/half-asleep (awake but not fully alert) or half-decent (somewhat less than decent).

Derived terms edit

English terms prefixed with half-