Semimonthlies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A publication or event that occurs twice a month or every half month
2. a term used to describe financial obligations or reports due on a semi-monthly schedule
3. relating to activities or distributions that happen at regular intervals over a two-week period

Etymology: "Semimonthlies" is the plural of "semimonthly," an adjective and noun built from the prefix "semi-," meaning half, and "monthly," meaning occurring once a month. Put together, a semimonthly thing happens twice a month, or every half month, which is why the plural refers to publications or events that appear on that schedule. The formation is a straightforward compound. "Semi-" comes from Latin "semi-," meaning half, and entered English through Latin and French usage, while "monthly" is a native English adjective built from "month" with the suffix "-ly." Pairing "semi-" with "monthly" was a practical way to name a schedule that falls between a monthly and a weekly rhythm, and it became common in publishing and payroll contexts. A note on the plural: the "-ies" ending follows the regular English pattern for nouns ending in a consonant plus "-y," changing "semimonthly" to "semimonthlies" when used as a noun for things like magazines or pay periods.

Synonyms: bi-monthlies, twice-monthly publications