I. də̇ˈmidēˌāt transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin dimidiatus, past participle of dimidiare, from di- (from dis- apart) + -midiare (from medius mid) — more at dis- , mid
1. archaic : to halve or reduce to the half
2. heraldry : to represent the half of : cut in two : halve
II. -ēə̇t adjective
Etymology: Latin dimidiatus, past participle of dimidiare
1. : divided into two equal parts : halved
2. biology : consisting of only one half of the normal : seeming to lack one half or to have one part smaller than the other
dimidiate elytra that cover only half the abdomen are common among certain families of beetles