hemi

¹

[ hem-ee ]

noun

, Automotive.

1. an internal-combustion engine having hemispherical combustion chambers.

hemi-

²

1. a combining form meaning “half,” used in the formation of compound words:

   hemimorphic.

hemi-

prefix

1. half Compare demi- semi-

   hemicycle

   hemisphere

hemi–

1. A prefix meaning “half,” as in hemisphere, half a sphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hemi¹

Shortening of hemi-head

Origin of hemi²

< Greek hēmi- half; cognate with Latin sēmi- semi-

Word History and Origins

Origin of hemi¹

from Latin, from Greek hēmi-

Example Sentences

But in March Kuniskis led the unveiling of two battery-powered versions of the Charger muscle car, while keeping one gas-powered version of the Charger without a big Hemi V8.

From Seattle Times

However the Stellantis brand, which has carved out a market niche of selling high performance vehicles, will keep selling a gas-powered Charger as well, sans the big Hemi V8.

From Seattle Times

The company says the new engine will make more horsepower and produce more torque than the outgoing 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V8s.

From Seattle Times

The cast includes Adam Jackson-Smith as Basil Fawlty, Anna-Jane Casey as his wife Sybil, Hemi Yeroham as waiter Manuel and Victoria Fox as Polly, the chambermaid who often rescues Basil from difficult situations.

From BBC

And so much of what defines a Dodge muscle car is related to the roar of the Hemi engine.

From The Verge

Words That Use hemi-

What does hemi- mean?

Hemi– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “half.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology and anatomy.

Hemi– comes from Greek hēmi-, meaning “half.” The Latin cognate of hēmi– is sēmi-, also meaning “half,” which is the source of English terms such as semicircle and semimonthly. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

Examples of hemi-

One example of a medical term that features the form hemi– is hemialgia, “pain or neuralgia involving only one side of the body or head.”

The hemi– part of the word means “half,” as we know, but what about the –algia part of the word? The combining form –algia means “pain,” from Greek álgos. Hemialgia literally translates to “half pain.”

What are some words that use the combining form hemi-?

• hemiballismus
• hemicardia
• hemidystrophy
• hemiglobin
• hemihedral
• hemilateral

What are some other forms that hemi– may be commonly confused with?

• hem-
• hemo-

Break it down!

The combining form –cardia refers to the heart. With this in mind, what does hemicardia literally mean?