half etymology

Etymology

The word "half" originates from the Middle English term "halven," which itself comes from the Old English word "healf."

Meaning

• One of two equal parts into which something is divided.
• A quantity or amount that is half of a whole.
• A partial or incomplete amount.
• An approximate or general value.

Origin

The origin of the term "half" can be traced back to Proto-Indo-European root "*kel-," meaning "to split." This root is also found in other words related to division and cutting, such as "cut," "split," and "cleave."

Over time, the Proto-Indo-European root "*kel-" evolved into the Old English "healf," which originally referred to half of a physical object that had been split apart. From Old English, the term was adopted into Middle English as "halven" and eventually evolved into the modern English word "half."

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