Here's a breakdown of its etymology:
* "semi": This Latin prefix means "half."
* "mensis": This Latin word means "month."
Therefore, "semester" literally translates to "half-month," or more accurately, "six months."
Historical Context:
The word "semester" was initially used to describe a six-month period in the Roman calendar. Over time, it evolved to refer to a six-month academic period in universities, particularly in Europe. This was likely due to the fact that the academic year was traditionally divided into two periods of roughly six months each.
While the term "semester" is now widely used in modern education, some institutions still use the term "trimester" for a three-month academic period.