half-blind

The word 'half-blind' is a transparent Germanic compound, formed by directly combining two native English elements. 'Half' originates from the Proto-Germanic 'halbaz', which carried the sense of "part" or "side", and is related to the concept of dividing into two. 'Blind' descends from Proto-Germanic 'blindaz', of uncertain deeper origin, but long established to mean "sightless". The compound's logic is entirely literal: 'partially sightless'. This straightforward construction follows a common Germanic pattern for describing gradations of a condition, where a quantifier like 'half' modifies a stative adjective like 'blind'. The figurative use, implying a lack of mental or perceptual clarity, is a natural semantic extension of the core literal meaning.

Structure: half (partial) + blind (unable to see) - half: From Old English 'healf', meaning "side, part", of Germanic origin. In this compound, it functions as a prefix denoting partiality or incompleteness. - blind: From Old English 'blind', meaning "sightless", of Germanic origin. It functions as the core adjective describing the condition of lacking vision.