hemisphere

Where does the word "hemisphere" come from? It comes from Greek hemisphairion, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Hemisphere’s story begins in Greek: hemisphairion meant “half a sphere.” Literally half sphere, from hemi (half) and sphaira (sphere). It reached English by 1300s as hemisphere. Settled as the word for half the earth or a sphere. Today, hemisphere means half of the earth, a sphere, or the brain.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient hemisphairion "half a sphere", literally half sphere, from hemi (half) and sphaira (sphere).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s hemisphere "half of the earth or a sphere", settled as the word for half the earth or a sphere.