semiserious

somewhat or partially serious

Adjective

  1. somewhat or partially serious
    • Rosenblum's semiserious survey of dogs in art illustrates major cultural and social changes over the centuries. - 1988 November 4, Achy Obejas, “Calendar”, in Chicago Reader:

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Indo-European *sēmi Latin sēmi-bor. English semi- Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Italic *sēros Latin sērus Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius ? Proto-Indo-European *swer- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *swerjos? Latin sērius Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ōtsos or *-otsos Latin -ōsus Medieval Latin sēriōsus Old French serieuxbor. Middle English seryows English serious English semiserious From semi- + serious.

Forms

semi-serious

Derived

semiseriously