Where does “semicircadian” come from?

semicircadian (English) comes from English circadian, from Latin diēs, from Proto-Italic djēm, from Proto-Italic *djous, from Proto-Indo-European dyḗws, from Proto-Indo-European dyéws, from Proto-Indo-European dyew- — to be bright; sky, heaven.

semicircadian (English): Occurring twice in a 24 hour period

Definitions

  1. Occurring twice in a 24 hour period

Ancestry of “semicircadian”, step by step

semicircadian traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English circadian

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishcircadianof, relating to, or showing rhythmic behaviour...
2LatindiēsA day, particularly
3Proto-Italicdjēmaccusative singular of *djous
4Proto-Italic*djous
5Proto-Indo-Europeandyḗwssky, heaven; sky god
6Proto-Indo-Europeandyéwssky, heaven
7Proto-Indo-Europeandyew-to be bright; sky, heaven

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 dyew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dyéwsEvery word from Proto-Indo-European dyḗws