half

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Translations 1.3.4 Derived terms 1.4 Adverb 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 Noun 1.5.1 Synonyms 1.5.2 Translations 1.5.3 Derived terms 1.6 Verb 1.6.1 Translations 1.7 See also 1.8 References 2 Dutch 2.1 Adjective 2.1.1 Derived terms 3 German 3.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English healf ('half'); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part'; akin to Old Saxon, Old Friesian, and Dutch half, German halb, Swedish half, Danish halv, Icelandic hālfr and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /hɑːf/, SAMPA: /hA:f/
• (GenAm) IPA: /hæf/, SAMPA: /h{f/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɑːf

[edit] Adjective

half (not comparable)

1. Consisting of a moiety, or half (1/2, 50%)

   a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view

2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect

   a half dream; half knowledge

   • Alfred Tennyson:

     Assumed from thence a half consent.

3. (of a sibling) Having one parent (rather than two) in common

   A half brother or half sister

4. (rare, of a relative other than a sibling) Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two

   A half uncle or half aunt or half cousin

[edit] Usage notes

• (consisting of a moiety, or half): The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound.

[edit] Synonyms

• (consisting of a moiety, or half): hemi-, semi-, demi-

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Adverb

half (not comparable)

1. In two equal parts or to an equal degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly

   half-colored; half done; half-hearted; half persuaded; half conscious

   • John Dryden:

     Half loth and half consenting.

   • Nehemiah 13:24:

     Their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

half (plural halves)

1. One of two equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; — sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.
   • John Milton:

     Not half his riches known, and yet despised.

   • Alfred Tennyson:

     A friendship so complete Portioned in halves between us

2. Half of a standard measure; frequently used (British) for half a pint of beer or cider.
   • 1968 (British), John Braine, The Crying Game, Houghton Mifflin, p. 11,

     He came back with a pint of Guinness for me and a half of bitter for Wendy.

   • 1974 (British), James Herriot, All Things Bright and Beautiful, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312020309,

     I accepted a half of bitter from him.

   • 2006 (British), Bill Appleton, Wide Boy, Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie, ISBN 1843862530, p. 168,

     I went to the bar where I bought a pint and two large brandies. ... "Not brandy," she replied, "but I could use a long drink - maybe a half of lager."

3. (arithmetic, preceded by “a” or a number) The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.

   Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half.

4. (obsolete) part; side; behalf — Wyclif
   • Geoffrey Chaucer:

     The four halves of the house

[edit] Synonyms

• (arithmetic: fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2): ½

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Verb

to half (third-person singular simple present halves, present participle halving, simple past and past participle halved)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To halve.

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• half-

[edit] References

• half in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Adjective

half (declined halve)

1. half

[edit] Derived terms

• halfgod m.
• halfrond n.
• halfstok
• halfweg
• halveren
• halverwege
• helft

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[edit] German

[edit] Verb

half

1. Past tense singular of helfen.