meaning - "pseudo-", "quasi-" "semi-" and


I was wondering about the meaning of "pseudo-", "quasi-" "semi-" and possibly other related prefixes, in general cases.


Particularly, in engineering and science, there are quite a few terms named with these prefixes. For example, "quasi-integrable", "pseudo-Newton method", "semigroup". But I never get to understand their differences in usage.



Answer



Pseudo- comes from the Greek for false/lie and refers particularly to something not genuine.


Quasi- comes from the Latin for almost and refers to something that is almost something else.


Semi- is the Latin for half and refers to something that is half-something else


In late usage, however, all three have been used to mean sort-of-


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