half-

See also: half and hálf-

English

Etymology

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

half-

1. half or partial; not complete
2. 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.

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with half-

See also

• quarter- (prefix for a fourth part)