half-brother
Meaning
a brother who is the son of only one of your parents
Structure
Usage
My half-brother and I share the same mother but have different fathers.
He was raised by his stepmother but remained close to his half-brother from his father's first marriage.
In the will, the estate was divided equally between the son and his half-brother.
Etymology
The term "half-brother" is a transparent English compound formed from native Germanic roots. The Old English word healf originally conveyed the sense of a "side" or "part," which evolved to denote one of two equal portions. When combined with brother, it creates a specific kinship term to denote a partial, rather than full, fraternal relationship, indicating shared parentage through only one parent. This logical compounding method is characteristic of English, using familiar elements to create precise relational vocabulary.
Analysis
- half: From Old English healf, meaning "side, part," or "one of two equal parts." In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning "partial" or "by one parent only." - brother: From Old English brōþor, meaning "male sibling." It functions as the core noun in the compound.