Demi rhymes with semi and hemi and like all those X-emis it means, “half.” Ergo, a demigod is half god. As a result of this half-and-half status, demigods usually have some extraordinary godlike powers but always combined with an equal number of extraordinary human weaknesses. A common example of this? Lightning fast reflexes combined with ADHD. Or like Achilles, you may be invulnerable to bullets everywhere except for your heel, which if attacked can instantly kill you. Or like Samson, super-strong until somebody cuts off your hair.
And that’s the easiest part of this definition, because nobody can agree on the rest. Like, where do demigods really come from? I won’t go into detail about it here but as you probably already suspect, this debate is about biology vs. environment again. Are gods and goddesses really prone to periodic acts of love with mortals, with lil’ demigodlings the genetic result? Could your real mom or dad be a god or a goddess? Or can any creature appeal to any god or goddess for the gift or loan of god-like powers therefore be elevated to the status of demigod, either temporarily or permanently?
Whatever the case, it’s prudent to identify them – or to know if YOU could be one!