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E 0249 DEMI-
The initial wordpart " demi-
" comes from French, with uncertain further origin .
H 0320 י מ
ד
Concept of root : half
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Hebrew word
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pronunciation
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English meanings
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י מ ד
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demi
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half
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Related English words
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demi-
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Comparison between European words and
Hebrew
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Languages
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Words
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Pronunciation
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English meanings
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Similarity in roots
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Hebrew
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י מ ד
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demi
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half
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d m .
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French
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demi
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demi
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half
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d m i
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English
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demi-
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demi-
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d m i
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Hebrew *DEMI --- *DEMI French < DIMIDIUS Latin
The problem with this absolutely perfect similarity is that we cannot too easily explain it. First of all, a Biblical word can not have been loaned from French. On the contrary , the French word might have been loaned from Hebrew, but nobody can say how and when.
Third, the Hebrew word "demi" seems to be an isolated one. None of the many other words having "D M" comes anywhere near it. Finally, there is some confusion about French "demi". A common etymological explanation for French "demi" claims a medieval Latin "dimidia (pars)" as its source . One may rather look at classic Latin, with the adjective "dimidius" = half", that must be the source.
Note:
- Proto-Semitic. This or a similar Hebrew root in the sense of "to resemble, be alike" is seen also in Aramaic, Syriac, and Akkadian and was probably already used in Proto-Semitic. This is found in entry E 0246 (Hebrew 0318). Two halfs may look alike, but that is a bit a far shot as explanation.
Note:
- French and Latin. There is no solid explanation for "dimidius". There is a second adjective "dimidiatus" with the meaning "halved", that seems to indicate the existence of a disappeared verb "*dimidiare" = "to halve". An explanation on the basis of a hypothetical Latin "*dis-medius" has been tried but refused. "Dis" is the sign of "separation" and "medium" says "middle". Yet, be it very rarily, "medius" is used for "half", as in a sculpture of a bust. We remain without etymology for "dimidius".
Note:
- Indo-European. If, as is the normal opinion, Latin "dimidius" is not related to "medius" we have no way back to Indo-European. There is a Cymric "dimai = half a penny", but that is then considered a loanword. Anyway, if the "*dismedius" would be right, our similarity would not be based on any common origin.
We remain at the levels of French and Latin as seen above.
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| Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: Monday 16 September 2013 at 14.19.45 |
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