Half n.; pl. Halves
1. Part; side; behalf. [Obs.]
The four halves of the house. --Chaucer.
2. One of two equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; -- sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.
Not half his riches known, and yet despised. --Milton.
A friendship so complete
Portioned in halves between us. --Tennyson.
Better half. See under Better.
In half, in two; an expression sometimes used improperly instead of in halves or into halves; as, to cut in half. [Colloq.] --Dickens.
In one's half or On one's half, in one's behalf; on one's part. [Obs.]
To cry halves, to claim an equal share with another.
To go halves, to share equally between two.
Halves n., pl. of Half.
By halves, by one half at once; halfway; fragmentarily; partially; incompletely.
I can not believe by halves; either I have faith, or I have it not. --J. H. Newman.
To go halves. See under Go.
◄ ►
half
adj 1: consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or
quantity; "a half chicken"; "lasted a half hour" [syn:
half(a)]
2: partial; "gave me a half smile"; "he did only a half job"
[syn: half(a)]
3: (of siblings) related through one parent only; "a half
brother"; "half sister" [ant: whole]
n 1: one of two equal parts of a divisible whole; "half a loaf";
"half an hour"; "a century and one half" [syn: one-half]
2: in various games or performances: either of two periods of
play separated by an interval
adv : partially or to the extent of a half; "he was half hidden by
the bushes"
[also: halves (pl)]