half
half adj. OE. h(e)alf = OS. (Du.) half, (O)HG. halb, ON. hálfr, Goth. halbs :- Gmc. *χalbaz; ult. connections doubtful. Applied to relatives that are such on one side only, as half-brother (XIV), half-sister (XIII), prob. — ON. Comp. halfpenny (XIV), in OE. healfpeniġwurð (see WORTH), whence †halpeny, ha'penny, †halp(w)orth, ha'p'orth. Also sb. †side; one of two equal parts. OE. h(e)alf = OS. halba, OHG. halba, ON. hálfa region, part, lineage, Goth. halba side, half.
So half adv. OE. in comb., e.g. healfcwicu ‘half-alive’, half-dead, healfrēad reddish, and in correl. use, e.g. healf man healf assa half man half ass (onocentaur). Hence halve divide into two. XIII.
So half adv. OE. in comb., e.g. healfcwicu ‘half-alive’, half-dead, healfrēad reddish, and in correl. use, e.g. healf man healf assa half man half ass (onocentaur). Hence halve divide into two. XIII.
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