Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
#89992 12/25/02 03:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546
Likes: 1
If used as an adjective to describe a type of surgery in which a portion is removed, however, a semicolon is preferred.

But seriously, folks. When used in that context, the prefix used is "hemi-", and the full term is hemicolectomy, often done when a scary-looking polyp is found.

So, now - is there any reason (rhyme there is, aplenty) why sometimes the language chooses hemi-, or semi-, or demi-, when it wants to indicate half?


#89993 12/25/02 04:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
is there any reason why sometimes the language chooses hemi-, or semi-, or demi-?

I quaver to think how the musicians answer this question.


#89994 12/25/02 07:41 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
I'd like to say I used demi more than the others, but 'tain't true.



TEd
#89995 12/25/02 07:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5
C
cosmo Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
C
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5
Demi? God.


#89996 12/25/02 10:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
S
sjm Offline
old hand
Offline
old hand
S
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
>is there any reason why sometimes the language chooses hemi-, or semi-, or demi-?

To use hemi for half here could leave one in a bit of a jam - it's a not uncommon given name, thought of as the Maaori version of James.


#89997 12/25/02 11:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546
Likes: 1
Q: is there any reason why sometimes the language chooses hemi-, or semi-, or demi-?

A: I quaver to think how the musicians answer this question.

Noted...


#89998 12/26/02 12:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
'Hemi' is used to describe an internal combustion engine wherein the top of each piston (not Walter) are convex shaped to focus/distribute more of the available power to the drive shaft.

'Semi' has become *our word for any truck with a removable cargo box.

'Demi' is the lady assistant to that guy who couldn't "Handel the truth".

It seems as if some tranference is involved in each yet nothing near a "half" and they clearly have nothing to do with music, Faldage.


#89999 12/26/02 02:35 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
and they clearly have nothing to do with music, Faldage.

ooh, you're going to get drawn and quartered for that one, or at least get kicked in the crotchet...




formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I don't know about the intricacies of convex pistoned internal combustion engines and demi- and Demi are another non-example of words that change pronunciation when they are capitalized, and for the same reason the as the other non-example. The meaning from which semi, meaning the whole vehicle, transfered is that of the trailer being half supported on its own wheels and half on the wheels under the massive trailer hitch.


#90001 12/26/02 06:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
But 'Demi' and 'demi' are pronounced the same sfars® I know, as are 'Hemi and hemi'. Yet 'Semi' and 'semi' fall into that *other category, no?


Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,340
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (A C Bowden), 411 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,546
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,917
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5