Where does “semivalvular” come from?

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

semivalvular (English): Partially valvular

Definitions

  1. Partially valvular

Ancestry of “semivalvular”, step by step

semivalvular 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 valvular

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvalvularOf or pertaining to valves, such as those of the...
2Late Latinvalvularum
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sēmi