Where does “semicentennial” come from?
semicentennial (English) comes from English centennial, from English -ál, from Middle English -al, from Old French -al, from Latin -ālis, from Proto-Italic -ālis — forms relational adjectives.
semicentennial (English): Occurring every 50 years; A 50th anniversary
Definitions
- Occurring every 50 years; A 50th anniversary
Ancestry of “semicentennial”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | centennial | Relating to, or associated with, the... |
| 2 | English | -ál | Of or pertaining to. Adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to produce an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also |
| 3 | Middle English | -al | — |
| 4 | Old French | -al | suffix used to form adjectives from nouns |
| 5 | Latin | -ālis | — |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -ālis | forms relational adjectives |