Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[organica]

Would any of you tell me what "semified" means?
It appears in a story, "A Tiger or a lady?" by Frank Stockton. (See the below for the example sentence)

Also would you explain the following sentence in easy terms?

"Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become semified was that of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor, the minds of his subjects were refined and cultured. "

Thank you for your help.

[asterix]

I don't believe there is such a word. However I Googled it and Google says that it means, "became half what it used to be". So, I think it's a made up word (by Frank Stockton) the intended meaning of which can be deduced.