Lewis & Short

sēmĭ-vīvus, a, um, adj., half-alive, half-dead, almost dead (class.; syn. semianimis).

  1. I. Lit.: ibi hominem fumo excruciatum, semivivum reliquit, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 17, § 45: Bibulum semivivum reliquerunt, id. Att. 7, 2, 8; id. Pis. 14, 31; Sen. Brev. Vit. 13; Nep. Eum. 4, 4; Vulg. Luc. 10, 30.
  2. II. Trop.: cum erat reclamatum semivivis mercenariorum vocibus, with half-expiring words, Cic. Sest. 59, 126.