Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “semiserious” come from?

semiserious (English) comes from English serious, from Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin seriosus, from Latin sērius, from Latin sērus, from Proto-Italic swerjos, from Proto-Indo-European swer-yo-s — to ache; to fester; wound; injury.

semiserious (English): somewhat or partially serious

Definitions

  1. somewhat or partially serious

Ancestry of “semiserious”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishseriousWithout humor or expression of happiness; grave...
2Middle Englishseryows—
3Old Frenchserieux—
4Medieval Latinseriosusserious
5Latinsērius—
6Latinsērus—
7Proto-Italicswerjos—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanswer-yo-s—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanswer-to ache; to fester; wound; injury

Words derived from “semiserious”

  • semiseriously
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swer- →