semata

Semata is a morpheme found in the Malay and Indonesian languages, best known for its role in the compound semata-mata, which conveys the sense of solely, only, or merely. In contemporary use, semata-mata is the standard form to express purpose or motivation without other considerations, while semata by itself is uncommon outside fixed expressions or literary contexts.

In terms of origin, semata-mata is a well-attested phrase in Malay and Indonesian and is widely used in formal writing, journalism, and speech. The exact historical development of semata as a standalone unit is not typically treated in English-language references; the emphasis in modern usage is on semata-mata as a single semantic unit meaning “solely.”

Usage notes and examples:

- Saya bekerja semata-mata untuk keluarga. (I work solely for my family.)

- Pekerjaan ini dilakukan semata-mata untuk kepentingan publik. (This work is done solely for the public interest.)

The construction signals that there is no other motive or purpose beyond the stated aim. In literary or archaic contexts, semata may appear alone or in older texts, but in everyday modern Indonesian and Malay, semata-mata is overwhelmingly preferred.

See also: semata-mata, Malay language, Indonesian language, phraseology.