half
/hɑːf/
noun, adjective, adverb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*halbaz — side, part, half
Overview
Meaning Now
- Either of two equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided.
- Amounting to approximately one half of a specified quantity or measure.
Literal older meaning
side or part
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
healf
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word originally carried a stronger sense of 'side' or 'part' in Germanic languages, often referring to a portion of a whole or a directional side, which evolved into the modern mathematical sense of a 50/50 division.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*halbaz
“side or half”
- Old English
healf
“side; part; half”
Used frequently to denote a side or direction.
- Middle English
half
“half”
Shifted toward the current quantitative sense.
Connections
Word parts
half
root
half
Related across languages
German
halb
half
Dutch
half
Old Norse
hálfr
half
Explore next
Related to half
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.