Where does “semi-smile” come from?

semi-smile (English) comes from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.

semi-smile (English): A faint smile; A suppressed or forced smile

Definitions

  1. A faint smile; A suppressed or forced smile

Ancestry of “semi-smile”, step by step

semi-smile traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English smile

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmileA facial expression comprised by flexing the...
2Middle Englishsmilento smile
3Old Norsesmīlato smile
4Proto-Germanicsmīlijanąto smile
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmēy-—

via English semi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsemiA semi-detached house; A semitrailer; a...
2Englishsemi-half; partial, incomplete; somewhat, rather,...
3Latinsēmi-half
4Proto-Indo-Europeansēmihalf; partially
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną →Every word from Old Norse smīla →