Half vs. Haft

Consisting of a half (1/2, 50%).

Example: ‘a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view’;

Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect.

Example: ‘a half dream; half knowledge’;

(of a sibling) Having one parent (rather than two) in common.

(rare, of a relative other than a sibling) Related through one common grandparent or ancestor rather than two.

In two equal parts or to an equal degree.

In some part approximating a half.

Partially; imperfectly.

Example: ‘half-colored; half done; half-hearted; half persuaded; half conscious’; ‘He does sometimes half wish to change his life, but it is too difficult.’;

One of two usually roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided.

Example: ‘I ate the slightly smaller half of the apple.’; ‘You don't know the half of it.’;

(sports) One of the two opposite parts of the playing field of various sports, in which each starts the game.

Half of a standard measure; frequently used (British) for half a pint of beer or cider.

(preceded by “a” or a number) The fraction obtained by dividing 1 by 2.

Example: ‘Three-quarters minus a quarter is a half.’;

(obsolete) Part; side; behalf.

Any of the three terms at Eton College, for Michaelmas, Lent, and summer.

(slang) A half sibling.

A child ticket.

To halve.

A half-hour after, thirty minutes after used with the number of the hour.

Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view.

Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge.

Example: ‘Assumed from thence a half consent.’;

In an equal part or degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly; as, half-colored, half done, half-hearted, half persuaded, half conscious.

Example: ‘Their children spoke halfin the speech of Ashdod.’;

Part; side; behalf.

Example: ‘The four halves of the house.’;

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.

Example: ‘Not half his riches known, and yet despised.’; ‘A friendship so completePortioned in halves between us.’;

To halve. [Obs.] See Halve.

one of two equal parts of a divisible whole;

Example: ‘half a loaf’; ‘half an hour’; ‘a century and one half’;

in various games or performances: either of two periods of play separated by an interval

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity;

Example: ‘a half chicken’; ‘lasted a half hour’;

partial;

Example: ‘gave me a half smile’; ‘he did only a half job’;

(of siblings) related through one parent only;

Example: ‘a half brother’; ‘half sister’;

partially or to the extent of a half;

Example: ‘he was half hidden by the bushes’;

The handle of a tool or weapon.

(Northern English dialect) A piece of mountain pasture to which a farm animal has become hefted.

(transitive) To fit a handle to (a tool or weapon); to grip by the handle

A handle; that part of an instrument or vessel taken into the hand, and by which it is held and used; - said chiefly of a knife, sword, or dagger; the hilt.

Example: ‘This brandish'd daggerI'll bury to the haft in her fair breast.’;

A dwelling.

To set in, or furnish with, a haft; as, to haft a dagger.

the handle of a weapon or tool