Where does “semivacancy” come from?

semivacancy (English) comes from English semi, from English semi-, from Latin sēmi-, from Proto-Indo-European sēmi — half; partially.

semivacancy (English): A vacancy defect in which two adjacent lattice sites are unoccupied and an atom occupies the interstitial site between the two vacant sites

Definitions

  1. A vacancy defect in which two adjacent lattice sites are unoccupied and an atom occupies the interstitial site between the two vacant sites

Ancestry of “semivacancy”, step by step

semivacancy traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English semi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsemiA semi-detached house; A semitrailer; a...
2Englishsemi-half; partial, incomplete; somewhat, rather,...
3Latinsēmi-half
4Proto-Indo-Europeansēmihalf; partially

via English vacancy

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvacancyAn unoccupied position or job; An available room...
2English-ancyAdded to verbs and adjectives to form nouns...
3Latin-antia-ance
4Latin-entia—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sēmi →Every word from English semi- →Every word from English semi →