What is the Latin word for half-learned?

The usual Latin words for “half-learned” are sēmidoctus, Persius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“half-learned” in Latin

sēmidoctushalf-taught, half-trained, half-practised Persiusa Roman nomen gentile, gens or "family name" famously held by

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

half-learned

semidoctus: mediocriter doctus: semipaganus (Persius, Prolog., 6 = half a poet). ☞ In the time of Suet., some persons were in the habit of applying the term of “litterator” to one superficially initiated in arts or sciences, in contradistinction to “litteratus;” Vid: De Illustr Gr., 4. Nothing more contemptible than your half-learned men, who fancy they know everything, nihil pejus est iis, qui paullum aliquid ultra primas litteras progressi falsam sibi scientiae persuasionem induerunt.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for half-learned?: The usual Latin words for “half-learned” are sēmidoctus, Persius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.