Where does “semisecular” come from?

semisecular (English) comes from English secular, from English -ly, from English grisly, from Middle English grisely, from Old English grisliċ, from Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic *-līk.

semisecular (English): Somewhat secular

Definitions

  1. Somewhat secular

Ancestry of “semisecular”, step by step

semisecular traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English secular

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsecularNot specifically religious; lay or civil, as...
2English-lyUsed to form adjectives from nouns, the...
3EnglishgrislyHorrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;...
4Middle Englishgrisely
5Old Englishgrisliċgrisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid
6Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
7Proto-Germanic*-līk

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-Germanic *-līk