moiety
UK[ˈmɔɪ.ə.ti]US[ˈmɔɪ.ə.t̬i]
n
One of two equal or approximately equal parts.
n
A part, portion, or share.
Etymology
The word 'moiety' entered English in the 15th century from the Anglo-French 'moité', meaning "half". This, in turn, derives from the Late Latin 'medietatem' (nominative 'medietas'), meaning "the middle" or "half", which is built on the Latin root 'medius' for "middle". The semantic journey is direct: from the core concept of "middle", it developed the sense of "half" (the middle point of division), and then broadened in English legal and formal contexts to mean any defined portion or share of a whole, though often implying one of two parts.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Anglo-French. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into productive morphemes in modern English spelling.
Examples
The estate was divided, with a moiety going to each heir.
Only a small moiety of the original manuscript has survived.
He inherited a moiety of his father's title and lands.