PURPOSE: To quickly drive a word line to an intermediate level with a simple circuit by giving a prescribed voltage to two control lines added between an output terminal of a decoder and a word line.

CONSTITUTION: In driving a word line 3 to a specific intermediate potential, if a high potential given to an output terminal 2 of a decoder 1 from a power voltage is outputted, a desired specific intermediate potential or a potential slightly higher than the intermediate potential is given to a control line 4 connected to the gate of a MISFET-Q1. Thus, the high potential outputted from the decoder 1 given directly to the word line 3 is prevented. Further, a high potential from the decoder 1 is given to the gate of the FET Q2 and a desired specific intermediate potential is given to a control line 3 connected to a drain of the FET Q2. Thus, the word line 3 is driven to the intermediate potential.