αἴμι(συς

Grammatical information: comp. element

Meaning: `half-' (Il.).

Compounds: In compp., e. g. ἡμισύ-τριτον n. `the third half = one and a half' (Archil. 167), ἡμιτυ-εκτου (gen.) `a half ἑκτεύς' (Cret.).

Derivatives: 1. ἥμισυς (- τυς), prop. subst. m. `half' ( ὁ ἥμισυς τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ; pl. ἡμίσεις Φ 7), τὸ ἥμισυ (Il.; after τὸ ὅλον), (adj.) f. ἡμίσεια, Epid., Ther. ἡμίτεια (Brugmann Grundr.<sup>2</sup> 2, 1, 447). In compp., e. g. ἡμισύ-τριτον n. `the third half = one and a half' (Archil. 167), ἡμιτυ-εκτου (gen.) `a half ἑκτεύς' (Cret.). With regressive assimilation ἥμυσυς (Erythrae V<sup>a</sup> etc.). On Lesb. αἴμι(συς) Schwyzer 185 and 274. An ο-stem (Schwyzer 472) ἥμισσον n. `half' (\< - τϜ-ον; Dor. Arc.). Denomin. verbs ἡμισεύω `halve' with ἡμίσευμα `half' (LXX), with aphairesis μίσευμα `id.' (Perga; Wilhelm Glotta 14, 75ff.); ἡμισιάζω `id.' (Hero; cf. the verbs in - ιάζω Schwyzer 735). - 2. ἡμί̄να f. `half' (Cret., Cypr.; Bechtel Dial. 1, 448), also as measure (Sicily; from there Lat. LW [loanword] hēmīna); on the formation f. δωτί̄νη and Chantraine Formation 205, Schwyzer 491. - 3. ἡμίχα ἡμιστατῆρα H.; cf. δίχα. - See Schwyzer 434 and 599.

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [905] *sēmi- `half'

Etymology: Old expression for `half-', also in Skt. sāmi-, Lat. sēmi-, Germ., e. g. OHG sāmi- `id.'. The functional identity is seen in parallel (not inherited) compp.: Skt. sāmi-jīva- = Lat. sēmi-vīvus, cf. ἡμί-βιος and OHG sāmi-queck "half-living", `half-dead'. For the supposed connection with * sem- `one' (s. εἷς) (Persson Beitr. 1, 144) Gonda adduced new arguments ( Reflexions on the numerals ` one' and ` two' 35ff.).

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