demi-semiadj.
/ˈdɛmɪˈsɛmi/ literal. Half-half, i.e. quarter; but usually a contemptuous diminutive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adjective]
evil971
lowc1175
poor?c1225
feeblec1275
vilea1300
petty1372
unthende1377
secondary1386
petitc1390
unmeeta1393
illa1400
commonc1400
coarse1424
indigent1426
unlikelyc1450
lesser1464
gross1474
naughty1526
inferior1531
reprobate?1545
slender1577
unlikely1578
puny1579
under1580
wooden1592
sordid1596
puisne1598
provant1601
subministrant1604
inferious1607
sublunary1624
indifferent1638
undermatched1642
unworthy1646
underly1648
turncoated1650
female1652
undergraduate1655
farandinical1675
baddishc1736
ungenerous1745
understrapping1762
tinnified1794
demi-semi1805
shabby1805
dicky1819
poor white1821
tin-pot1838
deterior1848
substandard1850
crumby1859
cheesy1863
po'1866
not-quite1867
rocky1873
mouldy1876
low-grade1878
sketchy1878
midget1879
junky1880
ullaged1892
abysmal1904
bodgie1905
junk1908
crap1936
ropy1941
bodger1945
two-star1951
tripey1955
manky1958
schlocky1960
cack1978
wank1991
bowf1994
1805 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. 3 312 The demi-semi statesmen of the present age.
1842 E. Miall in Nonconformist 2 409 Demi-semi-sacramentarianism.
1874 A. Helps Social Pressure (1875) vii. 98 Half men, ‘demi-semi’ men, were..of no use.
1901 Contemp. Rev. Mar. 358 England..no longer..employed the demi-semi-educated to educate the voters.
1906 Daily Chron. 1 May 3/1 Among the demi-semi-educated a laugh can always be raised by sitting down upon a silk hat!
1908 Daily Chron. 13 May 7/7 In the demi-semi-rural districts on the outskirts of towns.
1929 A. Huxley Holy Face 28 Her sage-green dress was only demi-semi-evening.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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adj.1805