Etymograph

English

semi-algorithm

From semi- + algorithm.

Formed from semi- + algorithm

Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘one’

Proto-Indo-European *sēmi ‘half’

English semi-

Arabic الخَوَارِزْمِيّ ‘definite masculine singular of خَوَارِزْمِيّ…’

Medieval Latin algorismus

Anglo-Norman algorisme

Middle English augrym ‘Calculation with Arabic numerals’

English algorithm

Today it means

noun A step-by-step procedure, like an algorithm, but which is not guaranteed to halt on all inputs.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “semi-algorithm”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / semi-algorithm

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