semidomesticated

1 7.2

Partly tame animals that live with people but still have wild instincts

adjective
/ˌsɛmiˌdoʊmɛstəˈkeɪtɪd/

: semidomesticado

Some semidomesticated plants are cultivated by gardeners but can still grow wild in their natural habitats.

Examples

For instance, a semidomesticated tobacco called punche was raised secretly on the ranchos and sold to the Indians without paying taxes to the colonial government, at significant profit to the settlers.

Academic text (1992)
Farmers often raise semidomesticated animals that can forage independently but still rely on humans for food.
The semidomesticated cats in the village have adapted to living around people while still hunting for their meals.

Synonyms

semi-wild

vssemidomesticated

1 6.0

Only partly wild, not fully tamed or grown by people

emphasizes partial taming and adaptation to living with humans

semiwild

vssemidomesticated

5.5

Partly wild and not fully tamed or controlled

highlights partial taming and human adaptation instead of wildness

How Domesticated

domesticated

Specialized

3.1

semidomesticated

1 7.2

wild

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

semidomesticated positive

Morphology

semidomesticated = domesticated (transparent) = semi + domestic + ate + ed

The word transparently means 'partly' + 'domesticated', so the meaning is directly recoverable from its parts.

Etymology

Semidomesticated begins with semi- meaning 'half' and uses domesticated, which is related to domestic and the idea of 'home' or living with people. So, a semidomesticated animal is 'half' tame, friendly around people and homes but still partly wild, which is why it may live near us but keep wild habits.