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semicentenary

semicentenary

9.1
About the 50th anniversary of an event
  • adjective
  • /ˌsɛmɪsɛnˈtɛnəri/
  • UK
translation icon : semicentenario
  • The museum held a semicentenary celebration to honor its founding.

Examples

  • The semicentenary ceremony drew alumni from the past five decades.

  • The semicentenary ceremony drew alumni from the past five decades.

  • A special edition of the book was released for its semicentenary in 2020.

  • The school celebrated its semicentenary with a grand event.

  • This year marks the semicentenary of the foundation of the museum.

  • A special edition of the book was released for its semicentenary in 2020.

  • This year marks the semicentenary of the foundation of the museum.

Synonyms

semicentennial
vssemicentenary
  • US
9.0

Relating to the 50th anniversary of an event

is broader and applies to a fiftieth anniversary of events or institutions

Surface Forms

semicentenary positive

Morphology

semicentenary = centenary (transparent) = semi + centenary

The meaning is directly compositional: 'semi-' indicates half of a centenary, yielding the 50th anniversary.

Etymology

Semicentenary starts with semi- ('half') and uses the same root as century (cent 'hundred'). So it means 'half of a hundred' years, that is fifty years, and is used to describe something relating to a 50th anniversary.