Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Hat Heredity

by Thomas Davidson

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.

Hat, hat, n. a covering for the head, generally with crown and brim: the dignity of a cardinal, so named from his red hat.—v.t. to provide with, or cover with, a hat.—ns. Hat′band, the ribbon round a hat, often a mourning-band; Hat′-box, a box in which a hat is carried; Hat′-peg, -rack, -rail, -stand, &c., a contrivance on which hats are hung.—adj. Hat′ted, covered with a hat.—ns. Hat′ter, one who makes or sells hats: a miner who works by himself; Hat′ting, giving a hat; Hat′-trick, any conjurer's trick with a hat: a House of Commons mode of securing a seat by placing one's hat on it: in cricket, the feat of a bowler who takes three wickets by three successive balls—deserving a new hat.—Chimney-pot, Cocked, and Crushed hat (see Chimney, Cock, Crush).—Hang up one's hat (see Hang); Mad as a hatter, completely insane: very angry; Pass round the hat, to beg for contributions, to take up a collection. [A.S. hæt, Dan. hat.]

Hatch, hach, n. a door with an opening over it, a wicket or door made of cross-bars; the covering of a hatchway.—v.t. to close as with a hatch.—ns. Hatch′-boat, a kind of half-decked fishing-boat; Hatch′way, the opening in a ship's deck into the hold, or from one deck to another.—Under hatches, below deck, off duty, under arrest. [A.S. hæc, a gate; Dut. hek, a gate.]

Hatch, hach, v.t. to produce, especially from eggs, by incubation: to originate: to plot.—v.i. to produce young: to be advancing towards maturity.—n. act of hatching: brood hatched.—ns. Hatch′er, one who, or that which, hatches; Hatch′ery, a place for hatching eggs, esp. those of fish, by artificial means.—Count the chickens before they are hatched, to depend too securely on some future and uncertain event. [Early M. E. hacchen, from an assumed A.S. hæccean; cf. Mid. High Ger. hecken, Sw. häcka.]

Hatch, hach, v.t. to shade by minute lines crossing each other in drawing and engraving.—n. Hatch′ing, the mode of so shading. [O. Fr. hacher, to chop.]

Hatchel, hach′el, n. and v. Same as Hackle.

Hatchet, hach′et, n. a small axe used by one hand.—adjs. Hatch′et-faced, having a thin, sharp-featured face; Hatch′ety, like a hatchet.—Bury the hatchet, to put an end to war, from the habit of the North American Indians. [Fr. hachette, hacher, to chop.]

Hatchment, hach′ment, n. the arms of a deceased person within a black lozenge-shaped frame, meant to be placed on the front of his house. [Corrupted from achievement.]

Hate, hāt, v.t. to dislike intensely: to dislike: to despise relatively to something else.—n. extreme dislike: hatred.—adjs. Hate′able, deserving to be hated; Hate′ful, exciting hate: odious: detestable: feeling or manifesting hate.—adv. Hate′fully.—ns. Hate′fulness; Hat′er; Hat′red, extreme dislike: enmity: malignity. [A.S. hete, hate, hatian, to hate; Ger. hasz.]

Hate, Haet, hāt, n. (Scot.) a whit.

Hathor, hath′or, n. name of an Egyptian goddess, ranked among the second class of deities, who was the daughter of Ra, the sun.

Hatter, hat′ėr, v.t. to trouble, annoy: to batter.

Hatti, hat′i, n. a Turkish decree of the highest authority, differing from a firman in being signed by the Sultan himself—in full, Hatti-sherif (sher-ēf′).

Hauberk, haw′bėrk, n. a tunic, worn by the Norman soldiers, covered with rings or mascles, reaching to the knees, slit at the sides or in the front and back for convenience in riding, though sometimes ending in short trousers, originally a piece of armour for the neck. [O. Fr. hauberc—Old High Ger. halsberg—hals, neck, bergan, to protect.]

Haugh, häh, n. (Scot.) a level plain, generally near a river. [A.S. healh, halh, a corner.]

Haughty, haw′ti, adj. proud: arrogant: contemptuous: (arch.) bold: (Spens.) high—Shakespeare has Haught.—adv. Haught′ily.—n. Haught′iness. [O. Fr. halt, haut, high—L. altus, high.]

Haul, hawl, v.t. to drag: to pull with violence.—v.i. to tug, to try to draw something: to alter a ship's course, to sail generally.—n. a pulling: a draught, as of fishes: a source of interest or profit.—ns. Haul′age, act of hauling: charge for hauling or pulling a ship or boat; Haul′er, Haul′ier.—Haul over the coals (see Coal); Haul off, or round, to turn a ship's course away from an object; Haul up, to come or bring to rest after hauling. [Hale.]

Hauld, häld, a Scotch form of hold, as in the prov. phrase, 'out of house and hauld'=homeless and completely destitute.

Haulm. See Halm.

Hault, hawlt, adj. (Spens.). Haughty.

Haunch, hawnsh, n. the fleshy part of the hip and buttock: (Shak.) the hip, the hind-part, the rear: (archit.) the middle part between the vertex or crown and the springing of an arch.—adjs. Haunch′less; Haunch′y. [O. Fr. hanche; prob. Ger., Old High Ger. anchâ, leg.]

Haunch, hawnsh, v.t. (prov.) to throw with an underhand movement.—n. a jerked underhand throw.

Haunt, hawnt, v.t. to frequent: to follow importunately: to intrude upon continually: to inhabit or visit as a ghost.—v.i. to be much about: to appear or visit frequently.—n. a place much resorted to: (Shak.) habit of frequenting.—p.adj Haunt′ed, frequented, infested, esp. by ghosts or apparitions.—n. Haunt′er.—adv. Haunt′ingly. [O. Fr. hanter; acc. to Littré, a corr. of L. habitāre.]

Haustellum, haws-tel′um, n. the sucking organ or proboscis of an insect or a crustacean:—pl. Haustella.—adj. Haus′tellate, provided with such.

Haussmannize, hows′man-īz, v.t. to open out, widen, and straighten streets, and generally rebuild, as Baron Haussmann did to Paris when prefect of the Seine (1853-70).—n. Haussmannizā′tion.

Haustorium, haws-tō′ri-um, n. a small sucker of a parasitic plant, penetrating the tissues of the host:—pl. Haustō′ria.

Hautboy, hō′boi, n. an older form of Oboe (q.v.): a large kind of strawberry. [Fr. hautbois—haut, high, bois, wood.]

Hauteur, hō-tār′, n. haughtiness: arrogance.—adj. Haut (Milt.), haughty.—ns. Haut-goût, flavour, spice, a taint: a highly seasoned dish; Haut-pas, a dais; Haut′-relief′, high relief.—Haut ton, high fashion, people of high fashion. [Fr.]

Haüyne, hä′win, n. a rock-forming mineral, a silicate of alumina and soda or lime, with sodium and calcium sulphate. [Named from René Just Haüy, a French mineralogist (1743-1822).]

Havana, ha-van′a, n. a fine quality of cigar, named from Havana, the capital of Cuba, fondly supposed to be made there.—Also Havann′a(h).

Have, hav, v.t. to own or possess: to hold, contain: to hold control of: to grasp the meaning of: to allow to be done, to cause: to regard, hold in opinion, esteem: to obtain: to enjoy: to bear or beget: to effect: to be affected by: to get the better of, outwit, to have hold upon:—pr.p. hav′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. had.—ns. Hav′er, one who has or possesses, a holder: (Scots law) a term to denote the person in whose custody a document is; Hav′ing, act of possessing: possession, estate: behaviour: (Scot. esp. in pl.) good manners.—adj. greedy.—Have as good, lief, to be as willing; Have at, attack, thrust; Have done (with), to come to the end of one's dealings; Have it out, to have something finally settled; Have on, to wear; Have rather, to prefer; Have up, to call to account before a court of justice, &c. [A.S. habban, pa.t. hæfde, pa.p. gehæfd; Ger. haben, Dan. have.]

Havelock, hav′lok, n. a white cover for a military cap, with a long rear flap as a protection from the sun. [From Gen. Henry Havelock, 1795-1857.]

Haven, hā′vn, an inlet of the sea, or mouth of a river, where ships can get good and safe anchorage: any place of safety: an asylum.—v.t. to shelter.—p.adj. Hā′vened, sheltered, as in a haven. [A.S. hæfen; Dut. haven, Ger. hafen.]

Haver, hāv′ėr, v.i. (Scot.) to talk nonsense, or foolishly.—n. Hav′erel, a foolish person.—n.pl. Hav′ers, foolish talk.

Haversack, hav′ėr-sak, n. a bag of strong linen for a soldier carrying his rations in.—n. Hav′er (prov.), oats. [Fr. havresac—Ger. habersack, oat-sack—haber, hafer, oats.]

Haversian, hav-er′si-an, adj. pertaining to or named after Clopton Havers, a 17th-cent. English anatomist who investigated the blood-vascular system of bone.

Havildar, hav′il-dar, n. the highest rank of non-commissioned officer among native troops in India and Ceylon. [Pers.]

Haviour, hāv′ūr, n. (obs.) behaviour.

Havoc, hav′ok, n. general waste or destruction: devastation.—v.t. to lay waste.—interj. an ancient hunting or war cry. [O. Fr. havot, plunder, of Teut. origin.]

Haw, haw, n. a hedge or enclosure: a field: the berry of the hawthorn.—ns. Haw′-buck, a clown; Haw′finch, the common grosbeak; Haw′thorn, a shrub or small tree, much planted both for hedges and for ornament: the white flower of the hawthorn. [A.S. haga, a yard or enclosure; Dut. haag, a hedge, Ger. hag, a hedge, Ice. hagi, a field.]

Haw, haw, v.i. to speak with hesitation or a drawling manner, real or affected—hence adj. Haw-haw, in an affected tone of voice.—n. a hesitation in speech: loud vulgar laughter.—v.i. to guffaw, to laugh boisterously. [Imit.]

Haw, haw, n. the nictitating membrane or third eyelid, as of a horse; also a disease of this membrane.

Hawk, hawk, n. the name of several birds of prey allied to the falcons: a rapacious person.—v.i. to hunt birds with hawks trained for the purpose: to attack on the wing.—ns. Hawk′-bell, a small bell attached to a hawk's leg; Hawk′bit, a genus of plants of order Compositæ, closely related to the dandelion; Hawk′er.—adj. Hawk′-eyed.—n. Hawk′ing.—adj. Hawk′ish.—n. Hawk′-moth, a very large kind of moth, so called from its hovering motion.—adj. Hawk′-nosed, having a nose like a hawk's beak.—ns. Hawks′beard, a genus of annual and biennial plants of order Compositæ, closely related to hawkweed; Hawk′weed, a genus of perennial plants of order Compositæ.—Know a hawk from a handsaw (prob. for hernshaw), to be able to judge between things pretty well. [A.S. hafoc; Dut. havik, Ger. habicht, Ice. haukr.]

Hawk, hawk, v.i. to force up matter from the throat.—n. the effort to do this. [Imit.]

Hawk, hawk, n. a plasterer's tool.

Hawked, hawkt, adj. (Scot.) spotted, streaked.—ns. Haw′key, Haw′kie, a dark cow with white-striped face.

Hawker, hawk′ėr, n. one who carries about goods for sale on his back, a pedlar.—v.t. Hawk, to carry about for sale: to cry for sale. [Cf. Low Ger. and Ger. höker, Dut. heuker.]

Hawm, hawm, v.i. (prov.) to lounge about.

Hawse, hawz, n. the part of a vessel's bow in which the hawse-holes are cut.—n.pl. Hawse′-holes, the holes in a ship's bow through which the cables pass.—ns. Hawse′-pipe, an iron pipe fitted into a hawse-hole, to save the wood; Hawse′-tim′ber, one of the upright timbers in the bow in which the hawse-holes are cut. [Ice. háls, the neck.]

Hawser, häz′ėr, n. a small cable, a large rope used in warping.—adj. Haws′er-laid, made of three small ropes laid up into one. [O. Fr. haucier, haulser, to raise—Low L. altiare—L. altus, high.]

Hawthorn. See Haw.

Hay, hā, n. grass cut down and dried for fodder.—ns. Hay′cock, a conical pile of hay in the field; Hay′-fē′ver, an ailment mostly met with in early summer, marked by excessive irritation of the nose, throat, &c., and accompanied with violent sneezing and intense headache—also called Hay′-asth′ma; Hay′field, a field where hay is made; Hay′-fork, a long-handled fork used in turning over hay to dry, or in lifting it; Hay′-knife, a broad knife, with a handle set cross-wise at one end, used for cutting hay from a stack; Hay′-loft, a loft in which hay is kept; Hay′-mak′er, one employed in cutting and drying grass for hay: (pl.) a kind of country-dance; Hay′-mak′ing; Hay′-mow, a rick of hay: a mass of hay stored in a barn; Hay′-rick, a pile of hay; Hay′-stack, a stack of hay; Hay′-ted′der, a machine for scattering hay and exposing it to the sun and air.—Look for a needle in a hay-stack, to look for something where it is barely possible to be found; Make hay, to throw things into confusion; Make hay while the sun shines, to seize a favourable opportunity. [A.S. híeg, híg, hég; Ger. heu, Dut. hooï, Ice. hey.]

Hay, hā, n. a hedge, fence.—n. Hay′-ward, one who herded the common cattle of a town. [A.S. hege—haga, a hedge.]

Hay, hā, n. (Shak.) a home-thrust in fencing. [It. hai, avere—L. habēre, to have.]

Hay, hā, n. a country-dance with winding movement.

Hazard, haz′ard, n. a game played with a dice-box and two dice by any number of players: chance: accident: risk: (billiards) the pocketing of the object ball (winning hazard), of the player's own ball after contact (losing hazard): (tennis) the side of the court into which the ball is served: (golf) a general term for all difficulties on a golf-links—bunkers, long grass, roads, water, whins, &c.—v.t. to expose to chance: to risk: to venture.—v.i. to run a risk.—adj. Haz′ardable.—n. Haz′ardise (Spens.), hazard.—adj. Haz′ardous, dangerous: perilous: uncertain.—adv. Haz′ardously.—ns. Haz′ardousness; Haz′ardry (Spens.), playing at games of hazard or chance: rashness; Chick′en-haz′ard, a game of chance with very small stakes. [O. Fr. hasard; prob. through the Sp. from Arab. al zār, the die; but Littré favours William of Tyre's derivation from Hasart, a castle in Syria, where the game was discovered during the Crusades.]

Haze, hāz, n. vapour which renders the air thick: obscurity.—v.i. to form a haze.—adv. Haz′ily.—n. Haz′iness.—adj. Haz′y, thick with haze: obscure: confused (of the mind). [App. not the A.S. hasu, haswe, gray; prob. Ice. höss, gray.]

Haze, hāz, v.t. to vex with needless tasks: to play tricks upon, to bully.—ns. Haz′er, a player of boorish pranks and practical jokes; Haz′ing, brutal horse-play. [O. Fr. haser, to annoy.]

Hazel, hā′zl, n. a bush or small tree of genus Corylus, of the oak family (Cupuliferæ), yielding an ovoid bony nut enclosed in a leafy involucre.—adj. pertaining to the hazel: of a light-brown colour, like a hazel-nut.—n. Hā′zeline, an alcoholic distillate from the Witch Hazel.—adj. Hā′zelly, light brown like the hazel-nut.—n. Hā′zel-nut, the nut of the hazel-tree. [A.S. hæsel; Ger. hasel, Ice. hasl, L. corulus.]

He, hē, pron. of the third person: the male person named before: a male person or animal.—adj. male. [A.S. hé; Dut. hij, Ice. hann.]

Head, hed, n. the uppermost or foremost part of an animal's body: the brain: the understanding: a chief or leader: the place of honour or command: the front or top of anything: an individual animal or person: a topic or chief point of a discourse: a title, heading: the source or spring: height of the source of water: highest point of anything: culmination: a cape: strength: a froth on beer, porter, &c., when poured into a glass.—v.t. to act as a head to, to lead or govern: to go in front of: to commence: to check: (naut.) to be contrary: (obs.) to behead.—v.i. to grow to a head: to originate: to go head foremost.—n. Head′ache, an internal pain in the head.—adj. Head′achy, afflicted with headaches.—ns. Head′band, a band or fillet for the head: the band at each end of a book: a thin slip of iron on the tympan of a printing-press; Head′-block, in a sawmill carriage, a cross-block on which the head of the log rests: a piece of wood in a carriage, connected with the spring and the perches, and joining the fore-gear and the hind-gear; Head′-board, a board placed at the head of anything, esp. a bedstead; Head′-boom, a jib-boom or a flying jib-boom; Head′bor′ough, an old term for the head of a borough, the chief of a frank pledge, tithing, or decennary; Head′-boy, the senior boy in a public school; Head′chair, a high-backed chair with a rest for the head; Head′-cheese, pork-cheese, brawn; Head′-chute, a canvas tube used to convey refuse matter from a ship's bows down to the water; Head′-cloth, a piece of cloth covering the head, wound round a turban, &c.; Head′-dress, an ornamental dress or covering for the head, worn by women.—p.adj. Head′ed, having a head: (Shak.) come to a head.—ns. Head′er, one who puts a head on something: a dive, head foremost, into water: a brick laid lengthwise along the thickness of a wall, serving as a bond: a heavy stone extending through the thickness of a wall; Head′-fast, a rope at the bows of a ship used to fasten it to a wharf, &c.; Head′-frame, the structure over a mine-shaft supporting the head-gear or winding machinery; Head′-gear, gear, covering, or ornament of the head; Head′-hunt′ing, the practice among the Dyaks of Borneo, &c., of making raids to procure human heads for trophies, &c.—adv. Head′ily.—ns. Head′iness; Head′ing, the act of furnishing with a head; that which stands at the head: material forming a head; Head′land, a point of land running out into the sea: a cape.—adj. Head′less, without a head.—ns. Head′-light, a light carried in front of a vessel, locomotive, or vehicle, as a signal, or for light; Head′-line, the line at the head or top of a page containing the folio or number of the page: (pl.) the sails and ropes next the yards (naut.).—adv. Head′long, with the head foremost or first: without thought, rashly: precipitately.—adj. rash: precipitous, steep.—adj. Head′-lugged (Shak.), lugged or dragged along by the head.—ns. Head′-man, a chief, a leader; Head′mark, a characteristic peculiar to a certain class; Head′-mas′ter, the principal master of a school; Head′-mold, the skull proper: (archit.) a moulding round or over the head of a door, &c.; Head′-money, a tax counted per head: a reward by the head for persons captured at sea, &c.: a reward for a proscribed outlaw's head.—adj. Head′most, most advanced, or forward.—ns. Head′-note, a note placed at the head of a chapter or page, esp. a condensed statement of points of law involved introductory to the report of a legal decision; Head′piece, a helmet: a hat: head, intelligence: (print.) a decorative engraving placed at the top of the first page of a volume, and at the beginning of books, chapters, &c.; Head′-pump, a small pump at a ship's bows to pump up sea-water for washing decks.—n.pl. Head′quarters, the quarters or residence of a commander-in-chief or general.—ns. Head′-race, the race which brings the water to a water-wheel; Head′-reach, the distance to windward made by a vessel while tacking.—v.i. to shoot ahead, in tacking.—ns. Head′-rest, a support for the head, esp. the adjustable apparatus of the barber's chair, and that used by the photographer to steady the sitter's head; Head′-ring, a palm-leaf ornament worn by Kaffir men in their hair after marriage; Head′-shake, a significant shake or motion of the head; Head′-ship, the office of a head or chief authority: dignity; Heads′man, a man who cuts off heads: an executioner; Head′stall, the part of a bridle round the head; Head′-stā′tion, the dwelling-house, &c., on an Australian sheep or cattle station; Head′-stick (print.), a straight piece of furniture placed at the head of a form, between the chase and the type; Head′stone, the principal stone of a building: the corner-stone: the stone at the head of a grave; Head′-stream, the highest of the streams which combine to form a river.—adj. Head′strong, self-willed: obstinate.—ns. Head′-tire, a head-dress; Head′-wa′ter, the highest part of a stream, before receiving affluents; Head′way, motion ahead, esp. of a ship; Head′-wind, a wind blowing right against a ship's head; Head′-word, a title word or heading usually in distinctive type; Head′-work, intellectual labour.—adj. Head′y, affecting the head or the brain: intoxicating: inflamed: rash: violent.—Head and ears, with the whole person: completely; Head and shoulders, very much, as if taller by a head and shoulders: violently; Head foremost, with the head first, esp. of falling from a height; Head or tail, the side of a coin with the sovereign's head, or the reverse: a phrase used in tossing up a coin to decide a point ('to make neither head nor tail of anything'—to be unable to understand it); Head over heels, in a somersault.—Come to a head, to reach a climax; Eat one's head off, to be consumed with mortification; Go by the head, to sink head foremost; Have a head on one's shoulders, to have brains or ability; Head off, to prevent by some counteraction; Lose one's head, to become very much excited: to lose presence of mind; Make head against, to resist successfully: to advance; Off one's head, demented, crazy; Out of one's own head, spontaneously; Over head and ears, deeply engrossed; Turn a person's head (see Turn). [A.S. héafod, Dut. hoofd, Ger. haupt.]

Heal, hēl, v.t. to make whole and healthy: to cure: to remove or subdue what is evil: to restore to soundness, to remedy, repair.—v.i. to grow sound:—pr.p. heal′ing; pa.p. healed.—adj. Heal′able.—ns. Heal′er; Heal′ing, the act or process by which anything is healed or cured: the power to heal.—adj. tending to cure, mild.—adv. Heal′ingly.—adj. Heal′some (Scot.), wholesome. [A.S. hǽlan, hál, whole; cf. Ger. heil, Dut. heel, Ice. heill; also Eng. hail, hale, whole.]

Heald, hēld, n. the same as Heddle (q.v.).

Health, helth, n. wholeness or soundness of body: general state of the body, as in 'ill health,' 'good health,' soundness and vigour of mind: a toast, as 'to drink one's health'—to drink to the health of: (B.) salvation, or divine favour.—adj. Health′ful, full of or enjoying health: indicating health: wholesome: salutary.—adv. Health′fully.—n. Health′fulness.—adv. Health′ily.—n. Health′iness.—adj. Health′less, sickly, ailing.—ns. Health′lessness; Health′-resort′, a place to which people go for the good of their health.—adjs. Health′some (Shak.), healthy, wholesome; Health′y, in a state of good health: conducive to health: sound in body or mind: vigorous. [A.S. hælth—hál, whole.]

Heap, hēp, n. a pile or mass heaved or thrown together: a great number of things, a great deal, a collection: (B.) a ruin.—v.t. to throw in a heap or pile: to amass: to pile above the top:—pr.p. heap′ing; pa.p. heaped.—adj. Heap′y, full of heaps.—A heap, a good many; Knock all of a heap, to confound utterly. [A.S. héap: Ice. hópr, Ger. haufe, Dut. hoop.]

Hear, hēr, v.t. to perceive by the ear: to comprehend: to listen to: to grant or obey: to answer favourably: to attend to: to try judicially: to be a hearer of: (Milt.) to be called.—v.i. to have the sense of hearing: to listen: to be told:—pr.p. hear′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. heard (hėrd).—ns. Hear′er; Hear′ing, act of perceiving by the ear: the sense of perceiving sound: opportunity to be heard: audience: judicial investigation and hearing of arguments, esp. of trial without a jury: reach of the ear: (coll.) a scolding; Hear′say, common talk: rumour: report.—adj. of or pertaining to a report given by others.—v.i. to repeat rumours.—Hear, hear! an exclamation of approval, uttered by the hearers of a speech; Hearsay evidence, evidence at second hand; Hear tell of, to hear some one speak of; I will not hear of, I will not listen to the notion or proposal. [A.S. hýran; Dut. hooren, Ice. heyra, Ger. hören, Goth. hausjan.]

Hearken, härk′n, v.i. to hear attentively: to listen. [A.S. hýrcnian, from hýran, to hear; Ger. horchen.]

Hearsal, hėr′sal, n. (Spens.). Same as Rehearsal.

Hearse, hėrs, n. a carriage in which the dead are conveyed to the grave: (orig.) a triangular framework for holding candles at a church service, and esp. at a funeral service.—v.t. to put on or in a hearse.—n. Hearse′-cloth, a pall for a corpse laid on a bier.—adj. Hearse′-like, suitable to a funeral, mournful. [O. Fr. herse (It. erpice)—L. hirpicem, accus. of hirpex, a harrow.]

Heart, härt, n. the organ in animal systems that circulates the blood: the vital, inner, or chief part of anything: the seat of the affections, &c., esp. love: the affections: courage: vigour: secret meaning or design: that which resembles a heart: a person, esp. as implying courage or affectionateness—a term of endearment or encouragement: anything heart-shaped, esp. that one of the four suits in a pack of cards bearing a heart in red.—v.t. to encourage, hearten.—v.i. to form a compact head, as a plant.—ns. Heart′ache, sorrow: anguish; Heart′-beat, a pulsation of the heart: a throb of emotion, a thought; Heart′-blood, blood of the heart: life, essence; Heart′-bond, in masonry, a bond in which one header overlaps two others; Heart′-break, a sorrow or grief.—v.t. to break the heart of.—n. Heart′-break′er, a flirt: a curl, love-lock.—adjs. Heart′-break′ing, crushing with grief or sorrow; Heart′-brok′en, intensely afflicted or grieved.—ns. Heart′burn, a burning, acrid feeling, said to be due to the irritation of the upper end of the stomach by the fumes of its acrid contents: cardialgia: Heart′burning, discontent: secret enmity.—adj. Heart′-dear (Shak.), dear to the heart, sincerely beloved.—n. Heart′-disease′, any morbid condition of the heart, whether of the various tissues composing it, or of the nervous arrangements governing it.—adjs. Heart′-eas′ing, giving peace to the mind; Heart′ed, having a heart of a specified kind (hard-hearted, &c.): seated or fixed in the heart, laid up in the heart.—v.t. Heart′en, to encourage, stimulate: to add strength to.—adjs. Heart′-felt, felt deeply: sincere; Heart′free, having the affections free or disengaged.—ns. Heart′-grief, grief or affliction of the heart; Heart′-heav′iness, depression of spirits.—adv. Heart′ily, in a hearty manner: cordially: eagerly.—n. Heart′iness, the state or quality of being hearty.—adj. Heart′less, without heart, courage, or feeling.—adv. Heart′lessly.—ns. Heart′lessness; Heart′let, a little heart.—interj. Heart′ling (Shak.), little heart, used in a minced oath.—n. Heart′-quake, trembling, fear.—adjs. Heart′-rend′ing, deeply afflictive: agonising; Heart′-rob′bing (Spens.), stealing the affections: blissful.—ns. Heart′-rot, a disease producing decay in the hearts of trees, caused by the mycelia of various fungi; Heart's′-ease, a common name for the pansy, a species of violet, an infusion of which was once thought to ease the love-sick heart; Heart′-seed, a general name of plants of genus Cardiospermum, esp. the U.S. balloon-vine; Heart′-serv′ice, sincere devotion, as opposed to Eye-service.—adjs. Heart′-shaped, shaped like the human heart; Heart′-sick, pained in mind: depressed.—n. Heart′-sick′ness.—adjs. Heart′some, exhilarating: merry; Heart′-sore, caused by pain at the heart.—n. (Spens.) grief.—n. Heart′-spoon, the depression in the breastbone: the breastbone.—adj. Heart′-stir′ring, arousing the heart, exhilarating.—n. Heart′-string, a nerve or tendon supposed to brace and sustain the heart: (pl.) affections.—adjs. Heart′-struck (Shak.), driven to the heart, deeply fixed in the mind: (Milt.) shocked, dismayed; Heart′-swell′ing (Spens.), rankling in the heart or mind.—ns. Heart′-wheel, Heart′-cam, a form of cam-wheel used for converting uniform rotary motion into uniform reciprocating motion.—adj. Heart′-whole, whole at heart: unmoved in the affections or spirits.—n. Heart′-wood, the hard inner wood of a tree—also called Duramen.—adjs. Heart′y, full of, or proceeding from, the heart: warm: genuine: strong: healthy; Heart′y-hale (Spens.), wholesome or good for the heart.—Heart-and-hand, Heart-and-soul, with complete heartiness, with complete devotion to a cause; Heart of hearts, the inmost heart: deepest affections; Heart of oak, a brave, resolute heart.—After my own heart, to my own liking; At heart, in real character: substantially; Break the heart, to die of grief or disappointment: to cause deep grief to any one; By heart, by rote: in the memory; Eat one's heart (see Eat); Find in one's heart, to be willing or ready to do something; For one's heart, for one's life; Get, Have, by heart, to commit to memory, or to hold in one's memory; Have at heart, to wish earnestly for: to hold in dear esteem; Have one's heart in one's boots, mouth, to be in a state of terror; Lay, Take, to heart, to set one's mind strongly upon: to be deeply moved by something; Out of heart, in low spirits; Set the heart at rest, to become easy in mind; Set the heart upon, to desire earnestly; Speak to the heart (B.), to comfort, encourage; Take heart, to be encouraged; Take heart of grace (see Grace); Take to heart, to be deeply pained at anything; Wear the heart upon the sleeve, to show the feelings, &c., openly; With all my heart, most willingly. [A.S. heorte; Dut. hart, Ger. herz; cog. with L. cor, cordis, Gr. kardia.]

Hearth, härth, n. the part of the floor on which the fire is made: the fireside: the house itself: the home-circle: the lowest part of a blast-furnace: a brazier, chafing-dish, or fire-box.—ns. Hearth′-mon′ey, Hearth′-penn′y, Hearth′-tax, a tax in England, formerly laid upon hearths; Hearth′-rug, a rug used for covering the hearth-stone; Hearth′-stone, a stone forming a hearth, the fireside: a soft stone used for whitening hearths, doorsteps, &c. [A.S. heorð; Dut. haard, Ger. herd.]

Heast, hēst, n. (Spens.) command—same as Hest (q.v.).

Heat, hēt, n. that which excites the sensation of warmth: sensation of warmth: a heating: exposure to intense heat: a warm temperature: the warmest period, as the heat of the day: indication of warmth, flush, redness: vehemence, passion; sexual excitement, or its period, esp. of the female, corresponding to rut in the male: a single course in a race: animation.—v.t. to make hot: to agitate.—v.i. to become hot:—pr.p. heat′ing; pa.p. heat′ed.—n. Heat′-ap′oplexy, sunstroke.—p.adj. Heat′ed.—ns. Heat′-en′gine, an engine which transforms heat into mechanical work; Heat′er, one who, or that which, heats: a piece of cast-iron heated and then placed in a hollow flat-iron, &c.—adjs. Heat′er-shaped, triangular, like the common heater; Heat′ing, causing or imparting heat.—ns. Heat′-spot, a spot on the surface of the body where a sensation of heat is felt; Heat′-ū′nit, amount of heat required to raise a pound of water one degree.—Latent heat, the quantity of heat absorbed when bodies pass from the solid into the liquid, or from the liquid into the gaseous, state; Mechanical equivalent of heat, the relation between heat and work—viz. the amount of molecular energy required to produce one heat-unit; Specific heat, the number of heat-units necessary to raise the unit of mass of a given substance one degree in temperature. [A.S. hǽto, heat, hát, hot; Ger. hitze.]

Heath, hēth, n. a barren open country: any shrub of genus Erica, or its congener Calluna, of the heath family (Ericaceæ), a hardy evergreen under-shrub.—ns. Heath′-bell, same as Heather-bell; Heath′-cock, a large bird which frequents heaths: the black grouse:—fem. Heath′-hen; Heath′-poult, the heath-bird, esp. the female or young.—adj. Heath′y, abounding with heath. [A.S. hǽð; Ger. heide, Goth. haithi, a waste.]

Heathen, hē′thn, n. an inhabitant of an unchristian country, one neither Christian, Jewish, nor Mohammedan: (B.) the Gentiles: a pagan: an irreligious person.—adj. pagan, irreligious.—n. Hea′thendom, the condition of a heathen: those regions of the world where heathenism prevails.—v.t. Hea′thenise, to make heathen or heathenish.—adj. Hea′thenish, relating to the heathen: rude: uncivilised: cruel.—adv. Hea′thenishly.—ns. Hea′thenishness; Hea′thenism, the religious system of the heathens: paganism: barbarism; Hea′thenry, heathenism: heathendom. [A.S. hǽðen, a heathen; Dut. heiden.]

Heather, heth′ėr, n. the Scotch name for the native species of the Linnæan genus Erica, called in the north of England Ling, esp. Erica (now Calluna) vulgaris, Common Heather, and Erica cinerea, Fine-leaved Heath or Lesser Bell-heather.—adj. of the colour of heather.—ns. Heath′er-ale, a famous liquor traditionally brewed in Scotland from the bells of heather; Heath′er-bell, a name given to Erica tetralix (or specially to its blossom), and sometimes also to Erica cinerea.—adj. Heath′ery, of or pertaining to heather.—Set the heather on fire, to create a disturbance; Take to the heather, to become an outlaw. [Usually derived from heath.]

Heaume, hōm, n. (arch.) a massive helmet.

Heave, hēv, v.t. to lift up: to throw upward: to draw in any direction, as by a windlass: to cause to swell: to force from the breast: (geol.) to move away or displace (a vein or stratum).—v.i. to be raised: to rise and fall: to try to vomit:—pr.p. heav′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. heaved or (naut.) hōve.—n. an effort upward: a throw: a swelling: an effort to vomit: broken wind in horses.—ns. Heave′-off′ering, a voluntary Jewish offering lifted up before the Lord by the priest; Heav′er, one who, or that which, heaves; Heaves, a disease in horses; Heave′-shoul′der, the shoulder of an animal elevated in sacrifice; Heav′ing, a rising: swell: (Shak.) panting.—Heave ho! an exclamation used by sailors in putting forth exertion, as in heaving the anchor; Heave in sight, to come into view; Heave to, to bring a vessel to a stand-still, to make her lie to. [A.S. hebban, pa.t. hóf, pa.p. hafen; Ger. heben.]

Heaven, hev′n, n. the arch of sky overhanging the earth: the air: a zone or region: a very great and indefinite height: the dwelling-place of the Deity and the blessed: the Deity as inhabiting heaven: supreme happiness.—adjs. Heav′en-born, descended from heaven; Heav′en-bred (Shak.), bred or produced in heaven; Heav′en-direct′ed, pointing to the sky: divinely guided; Heav′en-fall′en (Milt.), fallen from heaven, having rebelled against God; Heav′en-gift′ed, granted by heaven; Heav′en-kiss′ing (Shak.), kissing or touching, as it were, the sky.—n. Heav′enliness.—adj. Heav′enly, of or inhabiting heaven: celestial: pure: supremely blessed: very excellent.—adv. in a manner like that of heaven: by the influence of heaven.—adj. Heav′enly-mind′ed, having the mind placed upon heavenly things: pure.—n. Heav′enly-mind′edness.—advs. Heav′enward, Heav′enwards, toward or in the direction of heaven.—Heaven of heavens (B.), the highest of the heavens, the abode and seat of God; In the seventh heaven, in a state of the most exalted happiness—from the system of the Cabbalists, who divided the heavens into seven in an ascending scale of happiness up to the abode of God. [A.S. heofon; not to be conn. with heave.]

Heavy, hev′i, adj. weighty: not easy to bear: oppressive: afflicted: inactive: dull, lacking brightness and interest: inclined to slumber: violent: loud: not easily digested, as food: miry, as soil: having strength, as liquor: dark with clouds: gloomy: expensive: (B.) sad: (theat.) pertaining to the representation of grave or serious parts.—adv. Heav′ily.—n. Heav′iness.—adjs. Heav′y-armed, bearing heavy armour or arms; Heav′y-hand′ed, clumsy, awkward: oppressive; Heav′y-head′ed, having a heavy or large head: dull, stupid, drowsy; Heav′y-heart′ed, weighed down with grief; Heav′y-lād′en, laden with a heavy burden.—n. Heav′y-spar, native sulphate of barium, barytes.—Heavy marching order, the condition of troops fully equipped for field service; Heavy metal, guns or shot of large size: great influence or power; Heavy-weight, one beyond the average weight, esp. in sporting phrase, one placed highest in the ascending scale, feather-weight, light-weight, middle-weight, heavy-weight; Heavy wet, a drink of strong ale or ale and porter mixed.—The heavies (mil.), the heavy cavalry: those who play heavy parts. [A.S. hefig—hebban, to heave; Old High Ger. hebîg.]

Hebdomadal, heb-dom′a-dal, adj. occurring every seven days: weekly—also Hebdom′adary.—n. Heb′domad, the number seven, a group of seven things, a week: in some Gnostic systems, a group of superhuman beings, angels, or divine emanations, the sphere of the Demiurge lower than the ogdoad—from the idea of the seven planets.—adv. Hebdom′adally, from week to week.—n. Hebdom′adary, a member of a chapter or convent who officiates in the choir, &c., on a certain week.—Hebdomadal Council, a board which practically manages the business of the university of Oxford, usually meeting weekly. [L. hebdomadalis—Gr. hebdomas, a period of seven days—hepta, seven.]

Hebe, hē′bē, n. a personification of youth and spring, from the name of the daughter of Zeus and Hera, who was cup-bearer of Olympus.

Heben, heb′n, n. and adj. (Spens.) ebony.

Hebenon, heb′e-non, n. (Shak.) a poisonous juice. [Perh. ebony, or a corr. of henbane.]

Hebetate, heb′e-tāt, v.t. to make dull or blunt.—adj. Heb′etant, making dull.—ns. Hebetā′tion, Heb′etūde; Hebetudinos′ity.—adj. Hebetū′dinous. [L. hebetāre, -ātum—hebes, blunt.]

Hebrew, hē′brōō, n. one of the descendants of Abraham, who emigrated from beyond the Euphrates into Palestine: an Israelite, a Jew: the language of the Hebrews (fem. Hē′brewess, B.): (coll.) unintelligible speech.—adj. relating to the Hebrews.—adjs. Hebrā′ic, -al, relating to the Hebrews or to their language.—adv. Hebrā′ically, after the manner of the Hebrew language: from right to left.—n. Hebrā′icism.—v.t. Hē′braise, to express as in Hebrew: to conform or incline to Hebrew ideals.—ns. Hē′braiser; Hē′braism, a Hebrew idiom; Hē′braist, one skilled in Hebrew.—adjs. Hebraist′ic, -al, of or like Hebrew.—adv. Hebraist′ically.—n. Hē′brewism. [O. Fr. Ebreu—L. Hebræus—Gr. Hebraios—Heb. ‛ibrî, lit. 'one from the other side (of the river).']

Hebridean, hē-brid′ē-an, -i-an, adj. pertaining to the Hebrides—also Hebrid′ian.—n. a native thereof.

Hecate, hek′a-tē, n. a mysterious goddess, in Hesiod having power over earth, heaven, and sea—afterwards identified with many other goddesses, her power above all displayed in the matter of ghosts and bogies. [L.,—Gr. Hekatē—hekas, far.]

Hecatomb, hek′a-tom, n. among the Greeks and Romans, a sacrifice of a hundred oxen: a great public sacrifice: any large number of victims. [Gr. hekatombē—hekaton, a hundred, bous, an ox.]

Hecatontome, hek′a-ton-tōm, n. (Milt.) a very large number of books. [Gr. hekaton, a hundred, tomos, a volume.]

Hech, heh, interj. (Scot.) an exclamation of surprise.

Hecht, heht, Scotch form of hight, v.

Heck, hek, n. (Scot.) a rack in a stable for hay, &c.: a grated contrivance for catching fish: a contrivance in a spinning-wheel, and also in a warping-mill, by which the yarn or thread is guided to the reels.—Live at heck and manger, to be in very comfortable quarters. [A.S. hec, hæc; Dut. hek.]

Heckle, hek′l, v.i. to comb: to put a parliamentary candidate, or the like, through a series of embarrassing questions.—n. the same as Hack′le, Hatch′el.—ns. Heck′le, the long shining feathers on a cock's neck, a feather ornament in the full-dress bonnets of Highland regiments; Heck′ler, one who torments a candidate with catching questions.

Hectare, hek′tär, n. a superficial measure=100 ares, 10,000 sq. metres, or nearly 2½ acres (2.471). [Fr.,—Gr. hekaton, 100, L. area, area.]

Hectic, -al, hek′tik, -al, adj. pertaining to the constitution or habit of body: affected with hectic fever.—n. Hec′tic, a habitual or remittent fever, usually associated with consumption.—adj. Hec′toid, of a hectic appearance.—Hectic fever, the name given to the fever which occurs in connection with certain wasting diseases of long duration. [Fr.,—Gr. hektikos, habitual—hexis, habit.]

Hectogramme, hek′to-gram, n. a weight of 100 grammes, or nearly ¼ lb. (3.527 ounces). [Fr.,—Gr. hekaton, 100, and gramme.]

Hectograph, hek′to-graf, n. a gelatine pad for receiving a copy and therefrom multiplying a writing or drawing.—v.t. to reproduce by means of this.—adj. Hectograph′ic. [Gr. hekaton, a hundred, graph—graphein, to write.]

Hectolitre, hek′to-lit′r, n. a unit of capacity of 100 litres, 22.01 imperial gallons.

Hectometre, hek′to-mēt-ėr, n. a unit of length equal to 100 metres, or about 1⁄16th (.0621) of a mile.

Hector, hek′tor, n. a bully, a street brawler: one who annoys.—v.t. to treat insolently: to annoy.—v.i. to play the bully.—ns. Hec′torer; Hec′torism.—adv. Hec′torly.—n. Hec′torship. [Hector, the Trojan.]

Hectostere, hek′to-stēr, n. a measure of solidity of 100 cubic metres, 3531.56 Eng. cubic feet.

Heddle, hed′l, n. a series of vertical cords or wires, each having in the middle a loop (Hedd′le-eye) to receive a warp-thread, and passing round and between parallel bars.—v.t. to draw warp-threads through heddle-eyes. [An assumed A.S. hefedl, earlier form of hefeld.]

Hedeoma, hē-dē-ō′ma, n. a genus of herbaceous aromatic plants, the best-known species being the American Pennyroyal. [Gr. hēdys, sweet.]

Hedera, hed′er-a, n. a genus of climbing plants, best represented by the common ivy.—adjs. Hederā′ceous; Hed′eral; Hed′erated; Heder′ic; Hederif′erous. [L.]

Hedge, hej, n. a thicket of bushes: a fence round a field, &c.: any means of protection.—v.t. to enclose with a hedge: to obstruct: to surround: to guard: to protect one's self from loss by betting on both sides.—v.i. to shuffle: to be shifty: to skulk.—ns. Hedge′bill, Hedg′ing-bill, a bill or hatchet for dressing hedges.—adj. Hedge′-born, of low birth, as if born under a hedge or in the woods: low: obscure.—ns. Hedge′bote, an old word for the right of a tenant to cut wood on the farm or land for repairing the hedges or fences; Hedge′-creep′er, a sneaking rogue; Hedge′hog, a small prickly-backed quadruped, so called from living in hedges and bushes, and its resemblance to a hog or pig; Hedge′hog-plant, a species of medick, having the pods spirally twisted and rolled up into a ball beset with spines; Hedge′hog-this′tle, hedgehog-cactus; Hedge′-hyss′op, a European perennial plant of the figwort family, with emetic and purgative qualities; Hedge′-knife, an instrument for trimming hedges; Hedge′-mar′riage, a clandestine marriage; Hedge′-mus′tard, a genus of plants of order Cruciferæ, annual or rarely perennial, with small yellow or white flowers; Hedge′-note, a valueless literary attempt; Hedge′-par′son, a mean parson, generally illiterate; Hedge′pig (Shak.), a young hedgehog; Hedge′-priest, an ignorant itinerant priest; Hedg′er, one who dresses hedges; Hedge′row, a row of trees or shrubs for hedging fields; Hedge′-school, an open-air school kept by the side of a hedge in Ireland; Hedge′-shrew, the field-mouse; Hedge′-sparr′ow, Hedge′-war′bler, a little singing bird, like a sparrow, which frequents hedges; Hedge′-writ′er, a Grub-street author; Hedg′ing, the work of a hedger.—adj. Hedg′y. [A.S. hecg, hegg; Dut. hegge, Ger. hecke.]

Hedonism, hēd′ō-nizm, n. in ethics, the doctrine that happiness is the highest good.—adjs. Hedon′ic, Hedonist′ic.—n.pl. Hedon′ics, the doctrine of pleasure.—n. Hē′donist, one who advocates hedonism. [Gr. hēdonē, pleasure.]

Hedyphane, hed′i-fān, n. a colourless mimetite, containing calcium: a variety of green lead ore. [Gr. hēdys, sweet, -phanēs, appearing.]

Heed, hēd, v.t. to observe: to look after: to attend to.—n. notice: caution: attention.—adj. Heed′ful, attentive, cautious.—adv. Heed′fully.—ns. Heed′fulness; Heed′iness (Spens.).—adj. Heed′less, inattentive: careless.—n. Heed′lesshood (Spens.).—adv. Heed′lessly.—n. Heed′lessness.—adj. Heed′y (Spens.), heedful, careful. [A.S. hédan; Dut. hoeden, Ger. hüten.]

Heehaw, hē′hä, v.i. to bray, like an ass. [Imit.]

Heel, hēl, n. the part of the foot projecting behind: the whole foot (esp. of beasts): the covering of the heel, as on a boot: a spur: the hinder part of anything.—v.t. to use the heel: to furnish with heels: to arm with a steel spur, as a fighting cock: to seize by the heels: (U.S.) to supply with money.—v.i. to follow well (of a dog).—n. Heel′-ball, a black waxy composition for blacking the heels and soles of boots, for taking impressions of coins, &c., by rubbing: a shoemaker's last.—p.adj. Heeled, provided with a heel, shod: (U.S.) comfortably supplied with money.—n. Heel′er (U.S.), an unscrupulous hanger-on of a political party; Heel′piece, a piece or cover for the heel; Heel′-tap, a small quantity of beer or spirits left in the glass after drinking.—Heel and toe, with proper walking, as opposed to running; Heels o'er gowdy (Scot.), heels over head; Heels over head, upside down.—At, On, Upon, a person's heels, close behind; Down at heel, having the heels of one's shoes trodden down: slovenly: in poor circumstances; Kick one's heels, to be kept waiting for some time; Lay, Set, Clap, by the heels, to fetter: to put in confinement; Out at heels, having the stockings or shoes worn out at the heels; Show a clean pair of heels, Take to one's heels, to run off with haste: to flee; Trip up (one's) heels, to trip up or overthrow him; Turn on (upon) one's heel, to turn sharply round, to turn back or away. [A.S. héla; Dut. hiel.]

Heel, hēl, v.i. to incline: to lean on one side, as a ship.—v.t. to tilt. [Earlier heeld, A.S. hieldan, to slope; cf. Dut. hellen.]

Heeze, hēz, v.t. (Scot.) a form of hoise.—n. a lift.

Heft, heft, n. heaving: (Shak.) retching: (U.S.) weight: the bulk of.—v.t. to try the weight of.—adj. Heft′y, rather heavy: easy to lift. [Heave.]

Heft (Spens.), obsolete form of heaved.

Heft, heft, v.t. to accustom to a thing or place: (Scot.) to attach. [Cf. Ice. hefdha, Sw. häfda, Dan. hævde.]

Heft, heft, n. a notebook, a number of sheets sewed together. [Ger.]

Hegelianism, hē-gē′li-an-izm, n. the philosophical principles of Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831).—adj. Hēgē′lian, of or pertaining to Hegel.—n. a follower of Hegel.

Hegemony, hē′jem-o-ni, n. leadership: control, esp. of one state over others.—adjs. Hegemon′ic, -al.—ns. Hegū′men, Hegū′menos, the head of a monastery:—fem. Hegū′mene, Hegū′meness. [Gr. hēgemonia—hēgemōn, leader—hēgeisthai, to go before.]

Hegira, Hejira, hej′i-ra, n. the flight of Mohammed from Mecca, 15th July 622 A.D., from which is dated the Mohammedan era: any flight. [Ar. hijrah, flight, hajara, to leave.]

Heifer, hef′ėr, n. a young cow. [A.S. héahfore, héahfru, -fre; prob. 'high-goer,' faran, to go.]

Heigh, hī, interj. a cry of encouragement or exultation—also Hey, Ha.—interj. Heigh′-ho, an exclamation expressive of weariness. [Imit.]

Height, hīt, n. the condition of being high: distance upwards: that which is elevated: a hill: elevation in rank or excellence: utmost degree.—v.t. Height′en, to make higher, to advance or improve: to make brighter or more prominent. [Corr. of highth—A.S. híehtho, héahthu—héah, high.]

Heinous, hā′nus, adj. wicked in a high degree, enormous: atrocious.—adv. Hei′nously.—n. Hei′nousness. [O. Fr. haïnos (Fr. haineux)—haïr, to hate.]

Heir, ār, n. one who inherits anything after the death of the owner: one entitled to anything after the present possessor: a child, offspring:—fem. Heiress (ār′es).—v.t. Heir, to inherit.—ns. Heir′-appā′rent, the one by law acknowledged to be heir; Heir′-at-law, an heir by legal right; Heir′dom, Heir′ship.—adj. Heir′less, without an heir.—ns. Heir′loom, any piece of furniture or personal property which descends to the heir-at-law by special custom; Heir′-presump′tive, one who will be heir if no nearer relative should be born.—Heir by custom, one whose right as heir is determined by customary modes of descent, as gavelkind, &c. [O. Fr. heir—L. hēres, an heir.]

Hejira. See Hegira.

Hel, hel, n. in Northern mythology, the goddess of the dead, the sister of the wolf Fenrir, and daughter of the evil-hearted Loki.

Helcoid, hel′koid, adj. ulcerous.—ns. Helcol′ogy, the branch of pathology concerned with ulcers; Hel′coplasty, the operation of grafting on an ulcer a piece of healthy skin; Helcō′sis, ulceration.—adj. Helcot′ic. [Gr. helkos, an ulcer.]

Held, pa.t. and pa.p. of hold.

Hele, hēl, v.t. (Spens.) to hide, conceal. [A.S. helian, helan, to hide; Ger. hehlen.]

Heliac, hē′li-ak, Heliacal, he-lī′ak-al, adj. (astron.) emerging from the light of the sun or passing into it.—adv. Helī′acally. [Gr. hēliakos—hēlios, the sun.]

Helianthus, hē-li-an′thus, n. a genus of order Compositae, including the common sunflower. [Gr. hēlios, the sun, anthos, a flower.]

Helical, Helicidæ, Helicograph, Helicoid. See Helix.

Heliconian, hel-i-kō′ni-an, adj. pertaining to Helicon, a mountain-range in Bœotia, in ancient Greece, the favourite seat of the Muses.

Heliocentric, -al, hē-li-o-sen′trik, -al, adj. (astron.) referred to the sun as centre.—adv. Heliocen′trically. [Gr. hēlios, the sun, kentron, the centre.]

Heliochromy, hē′li-ok-rō-mi, n. the art of producing photographs in the natural colours.—ns. Hē′liochrome, Heliochrō′motype, a photograph in the natural colours.—adj. Heliochrō′mic.

Heliograph, hē′li-o-graf, n. an apparatus for signalling by means of the sun's rays: an engraving obtained by a process in which a specially prepared plate is acted on chemically by exposure to light: an apparatus for taking photographs of the sun.—v.t. to signal to by means of the sun's rays.—n. Heliog′rapher.—adjs. Heliograph′ic, -al.—adv. Heliograph′ically.—ns. Heliog′raphy, a method of communicating swiftly between distant points by means of the sun's rays reflected from mirrors: photography; Heliogrā′vure (or hā-li-ō-gra-vür′), photo-engraving, or a print obtained by this process. [Gr. hēlios, the sun, graphē, a painting—graphein, to write.]

Heliolatry, hē-li-ol′a-tri, n. worship of the sun.—n. Heliol′ater, a worshipper of the sun.—adj. Heliol′atrous. [Gr. hēlios, the sun, latreia, worship.]

Heliology, hē-li-ol′ō-ji, n. the science of the sun.

Heliometer, hē-li-om′e-tėr, n. an instrument by which the diameters of the heavenly bodies can be measured with great accuracy.—adjs. Heliomet′ric, -al. [Gr. hēlios, sun, metron, a measure.]

Heliophilous, hē-li-of′i-lus, adj. fond of the sun—opp. to Heliophō′bic, fearing or shunning sunlight.

Helioscope, hē′li-o-skōp, n. a telescope for viewing the sun without injury to the eyes, by means of blackened glass or mirrors that reflect only a part of the light.—adj. Helioscop′ic. [Fr. hélioscope—Gr. hēlios, the sun, skopein, to look, to spy.]

Heliostat, hē′li-o-stat, n. an instrument by means of which a beam of sunlight is reflected in an invariable direction. [Gr. hēlios, sun, statos, fixed—histanai, to stand.]

Heliotrope, hē′li-o-trōp, n. a genus of plants of the natural order Boraginaceæ, many species with fragrant flowers, esp. the Peruvian heliotrope, with small lilac-blue flowers and a fragrance resembling vanilla or cherry-pie: (min.) a bloodstone, a variety of chalcedony of a dark-green colour variegated with red: a mirror placed at a distant station and adjusted by clockwork, so that at a particular hour of the day (arranged beforehand) the light of the sun shall be reflected from the mirror directly to the surveyor's station.—adjs. Heliotrop′ic, -al.—adv. Heliotrop′ically.—ns. Heliot′ropism, Heliot′ropy, the tendency that the stem and leaves of a seedling plant have to bend towards, and the roots from, the light when placed in a transparent vessel of water within reach of the light of a window. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. hēliotropion—hēlios, the sun, tropos, a turn.]

Heliotypy, hē′li-ō-tī-pi, n. a photo-mechanical process in which the gelatine relief is itself used to print from in some form of printing-press, instead of being covered with tinfoil as in the stannotype process.—n. Hē′liotype, a photograph.—v.t. to produce a heliotype picture of.—v.i. to practise heliotypy.—adj. Heliotyp′ic. [Gr. hēlios, sun, typos, impression.]

Heliozoa, hē′li-ō-zō′a, n. a class of Protozoa of the Rhizopod type, with protruding processes of living matter. [Gr. hēlios, the sun, zōon, an animal.]

Helium, hē′li-um, n. a substance discovered by Lockyer in the sun's atmosphere, found by Ramsay in the rare Norwegian mineral cleveite.

Helix, hē′liks, n. a spiral, as of wire in a coil: (zool.) a genus of molluscs including the land-snails: the external part of the ear: a small volute or twist in the capital of a Corinthian column:—pl. Helices (hel′i-sēz).—adj. Hel′ical, spiral.—adv. Hel′ically.—n.pl. Helic′idæ, a large family of terrestrial, air-breathing gasteropods, of which snails are familiar examples.—n. Hel′icograph, a drawing instrument for describing a spiral line.—adjs. Hel′icoid, -al, like a helix, screw-shaped; Helispher′ic, -al, spiral. [L.,—Gr. helix, helissein, to turn round.]

Hell, hel, n. the place or state of punishment of the wicked after death: the place of the dead indefinitely: the abode of evil spirits: the powers of hell: any place of vice or misery: a gambling-house.—adjs. Hell′-black (Shak.), black as hell; Hell′-born, born in hell: of hellish origin; Hell′-bred.—ns. Hell′-broth (Shak.), a composition boiled up for malignant purposes; Hell′-cat, a malignant hag; Hell′-fire, the fire of hell: punishment in hell; Hell′-gate, the entrance into hell.—adj. Hell′-hat′ed (Shak.), hated or abhorred as hell.—n. Hell′hound, a hound of hell: an agent of hell.—adj. Hell′ish, pertaining to or like hell: very wicked.—adv. Hell′ishly.—ns. Hell′ishness; Hell′-kite (Shak.), a kite of infernal breed.—adv. Hell′ward, towards hell. [A.S. hel; Ice. hel, Ger. hölle.]

Hell, hel, v.t. (Spens.) to hide.

He′ll, contraction for he will.

Hellebore, hel′e-bōr, n. a plant of the genus Helleborus (Ranunculaceæ), whose root possesses drastic purgative properties, anciently used as a cure for insanity—varieties are the Black Hellebore or Christmas Rose, the Stinking and the Green Hellebore; similar plants of other genera are the Winter Hellebore and the American False or White Hellebore, known also as Indian Poke or Itch Weed. [Fr. hellébore—L. helleborus—Gr. helleboros.]

Hellenic, hel-len′ik, or hel-lē′nik, Hellenian, hel-lē′ni-an, adj. pertaining to the Hellenes or Greeks: Grecian, in art, esp. of the period from the primitive epoch to the Roman supremacy in Greece (beginning 146 B.C.), sometimes only from the time of Alexander the Great (c. 330 B.C.)—the term Hellenistic applying to later times.—n. Hell′ēne, an ancient Greek: a subject of the modern kingdom of Greece or Hellas:—pl. Hellē′nes, the name of the modern Greeks for themselves.—v.i. Hell′enise, to conform, or show a tendency to conform, to Greek usages.—ns. Hell′enism, a Greek idiom: the spirit of the Greek race; Hell′enist, one skilled in the Greek language: a Jew who used the Greek language and adopted Greek usages, in opposition to the Hebrews properly so called, whether of Palestine or of the Dispersion, and to the Hellenes or Greeks proper—they are called Grecians in the Authorised, Grecian Jews in the Revised Version.—adjs. Hellenist′ic, -al, pertaining to the Hellenists: pertaining to Greek with foreign, esp. Aramaic and Hebrew, idioms—a popular dialect which grew up at Alexandria and perpetuated itself in the Septuagint, and to a less marked degree in the New Testament.—adv. Hellenist′ically. [Gr. Hellēnios, Helēnikos—Hellēnes, a name ultimately given to all the Greeks—Hellēn, the son of Deucalion, the Greek Noah.]

Hellicat, hel′i-kat, adj. giddy-headed: flighty.—n. (Scot.) a wicked creature.

Helm, helm, n. the instrument by which a ship is steered: the station of management or government.—v.t. to direct.—n. Helm′age, guidance.—adj. Helm′less, of a ship, without a helm.—n. Helms′man, the one who steers. [A.S. helma; Ice. hjálm, a rudder, Gr. helm, a handle.]

Helm, helm, Helmet, hel′met, n. a covering of armour for the head: (bot.) the hooded upper lip of certain flowers.—adjs. Helmed, Hel′meted, furnished with a helmet.—n. Hel′met-shell, a genus of gasteropods having thick heavy shells with bold ridges: a cameo-shell. [A.S. helm—helan, to cover; Ger. helm.]

Helminth, hel′minth, n. a worm.—n. Helminth′agogue, a remedy against worms.—adj. Helmin′thic, pertaining to worms: (med.) expelling worms.—n. a medicine for expelling worms.—n. Helmin′thite, a long sinuous mark common on the surfaces of sandstone, and supposed to be the tracks of worms.—adjs. Helmin′thoid, worm-shaped; Helmintholog′ic, -al.—ns. Helminthol′ogist; Helminthol′ogy, that branch of natural history which treats of worms, or more particularly of the parasitic forms.—adj. Helminth′ous. [Gr. helmins, -inthos, a worm.]

Helot, hē′lot, or hel′ot, n. one of a class of slaves among the ancient Spartans.—ns. Hē′lotage, the state of a Helot; Hē′lotism, the condition of the Helots in ancient Sparta: slavery; Hē′lotry, the whole body of the Helots: any class of slaves. [Gr.; said to be derived from Helos, a town in Greece, reduced to slavery by the Spartans.]

Help, help, v.t. to support: to assist: to mitigate: to give means for doing anything: to provide or supply with: to remedy: to prevent, to keep from.—v.i. to give assistance: to contribute:—pa.p. helped, (B.) hōlp′en.—n. means or strength given to another for a purpose: assistance: relief: one who assists: (Amer.) a hired servant, esp. a domestic.—n. Help′er, one who helps: an assistant.—adj. Help′ful, giving help: useful.—n. Help′fulness.—adj. Help′less, without help or power in one's self: wanting assistance.—adv. Help′lessly.—ns. Help′lessness; Help′mate, an assistant: a partner: a wife—also written Help′meet, from Gen. ii. 18.—Help forward, to assist in making progress; Help off, to aid in disposing or getting rid of; Help on, to forward, to lift up; Help out, to aid in finishing a task, eking out a supply, &c.; Help over, to enable to surmount; Help to, to aid in obtaining for some one; Help up, to raise.—God help him, a phrase implying extreme pity or commiseration.—So help me God, a very strong asseveration, implying the willingness of the speaker to let his chance of salvation depend upon his truthfulness. [A.S. helpan, pa.t. healp, pa.p. holpen; Ice. hjálpa, Ger. helfen, to aid.]

Helter-skelter, hel′ter-skel′ter, adv. in a confused hurry: tumultuously.—n. a confused medley: disorderly motion.—adj. confused.—n. Hel′ter-skel′teriness. [Imit.]

Helve, helv, n. the handle of an axe or hatchet: the handle of a forehammer.—v.t. to furnish with a handle, as an axe.—n. Helve′-hamm′er, a trip-hammer. [A.S. hielfe, helfe, a handle.]

Helvetic, hel-vet′ik, adj. pertaining to Switzerland—also Helvē′tian.—Helvetic Confessions, two confessions of faith drawn up by the Swiss theologians in 1536 and 1566, in substance Protestant, Evangelical, moderately Calvinistic, and Zwinglian. [L.,—Helvetia, Latin name of Switzerland.]

Hem, hem, n. the border of a garment doubled down and sewed.—v.t. to form a hem on: to edge:—pr.p. hem′ming; pa.p. hemmed.—n. Hem′-stitch, the ornamental finishing of the inner side of a hem, made by pulling out several threads adjoining it and drawing together in groups the cross-threads by successive stitches.—v.t. to embroider with such.—Hem in, to surround. [A.S. hemm, a border; Ger. hamm, a fence.]

Hem, hem, n. and interj. a sort of half-cough to draw attention.—v.i. to utter the sound hem!—pr.p. hem′ming; pa.p. hemmed. [Imit.]

Hem, hem, (Spens.) them.

Hemeralopia, hem′e-ra-lō′pi-a, n. day-blindness, a defect of vision except in artificial or dim light; also applied to night-blindness. [Gr. hēmera, a day, alaos, blind, ōps, the eye.]

Hemianopsia, hem′i-an-op′si-a, n. complete or partial blindness as to half the field of vision—also Hemianōp′ia, Hemiō′pia, Hemiop′sia, Hem′opsy.—adjs. Hemianop′tic, Hemiop′ic. [Gr. hēmi-, half, an-, neg., opsis, sight.]

Hemicrania, hem-i-krā′ni-a, n. headache confined to one side of the head.—adj. Hemicran′ic.

Hemicycle, hem′i-sī-kl, n. a semicircle, a room with seats so arranged. [Fr.,—Gr.]

Hemihedrism, hem-i-hē′drizm, n. a property of crystals of being Hemihē′dral, or having half the number of symmetrically arranged planes occurring on a holohedron.—n. Hemihē′dron. [Gr. hēmi-, half, hedra, a seat.]

Hemiolic, hem-i-ol′ik, adj. constituting the proportion of 1½ to 1, or of 3 to 2. [Gr. hēmi-, half, holos, whole.]

Hemionus, hē-mī′o-nus, Hemione, hem′i-ōn, n. the half-ass, or dziggetai. [Gr. hēmi-, half, onos, an ass.]

Hemiplegia, hem-i-plē′ji-a, n. paralysis of one side of the face or body—also Hem′iplegy.—adj. Hemipleg′ic. [Gr. hēmi-, half, plēgē, a blow.]

Hemiptera, hem-ip′tėr-a, n. an order of Insecta, in the classification of Linnæus: in later systems, the same as Rhyncota, including aphides, coccus insects, cicadas, bugs, water-scorpions, lice (Ametabola).—n. Hemip′ter.—adjs. Hemip′teral, Hemip′teran, Hemip′terous. [Gr. hēmi-, half, pteron, a wing.]

Hemisphere, hem′i-sfēr, n. a half-sphere: half of the globe or a map of it.—adjs. Hemispher′ic, -al.—n. Hemisphē′roid, the half of a spheroid.—adj. Hemispheroi′dal.—Eastern and Western hemispheres, the eastern and western halves of the terrestrial globe, the former including Europe, Asia, and Africa; the latter, the Americas. [Gr. hēmisphairion—hēmi-, half, sphaira, a sphere.]

Hemistich, hem′i-stik, n. one of the two parts of a line of poetry as divided by the cesura: half a line, an incomplete or unfinished line: an epodic line or refrain.—adj. Hem′istichal. [L. hemistichium—Gr. hēmistichion—hēmi-, half, stichos, a line.]

Hemitrope, hem′i-trōp, n. a form in which one part of a crystal is in reverse position with reference to the other part, a twin-crystal.—adjs. Hem′itrope, Hemit′ropal, Hemitrop′ic, Hemit′ropous.

Hemlock, hem′lok, n. a genus of umbelliferous plants, the most common species being the poisonous spotted hemlock, used in medicine. [A.S. hemlic, the second syllable a weakened form of leác, a plant. Cf. Charlock, Garlic.]

Hemp, hemp, n. a plant with a fibrous bark used for cordage, coarse cloth, &c.: the fibrous rind prepared for spinning.—adj. Hemp′en, made of hemp.—ns. Hemp′-nett′le, a coarse bristly annual weed of the labiate family; Hemp′-palm, a palm of China and Japan, the fibre of the leaves of which is much employed for making cordage—hats, cloaks, and other garments are also made from it; Hemp′-seed, Mrs Quickly's word for homicide (Shak., 2 Henry IV., II. i. 64).—adj. Hemp′y, like hemp: roguish: romping.—n. (Scot.) a rogue.—Hempen collar, and caudle (Shak.), the hangman's noose; Hempen widow, the widow of a man who has been hanged. [A.S. henep, hænep—L. cannabis—Gr. kannabis.]

Hen, hen, n. the female of any bird, esp. of the domestic fowl.—ns. Hen′bane, a coarse annual or biennial herb of the nightshade family, poisonous, esp. to domestic fowls; Hen′coop, a coop or large cage for domestic fowls; Hen′-driv′er, Hen′-harr′ier, a species of falcon, the common harrier.—adj. Hen′-heart′ed, timid as a hen: cowardly.—ns. Hen′-house, a house, coop, or shelter for fowls; Hen′-huss′y, a man who meddles with women's affairs; Hen′-mould, a black, spongy soil; Hen′nery, a place where fowls are kept.—adj. Hen′ny, like a hen, feathered.—v.t. Hen′peck, of a wife, to domineer over her husband.—n. the subjection of a husband to his wife.—adj. Hen′pecked, weakly subject to his wife.—ns. Henpeck′ery, the state of being henpecked; Hen′-roost, a place where poultry roost at night; Hen′wife, Hen′-wom′an, a woman who has the charge of poultry. [A.S. henn—hana, a cock; Ger. hahn, fem. henne.]

Hence, hens, adv. from this place or time: in the future: from this cause or reason: from this origin.—interj. away! begone!—advs. Hence′forth, Hencefor′ward, from this time forth or forward. [M. E. hennes, henne—A.S. heonan, from the base of he; Ger. hinnen,hin, hence; so L. hinc, hence—hic, this.]

Henchman, hensh′man, n. a servant: a page. [Not from haunch-man, but from A.S. hengest, a horse (Ger. hengst), and man.]

Hend, hend, v.t. (Spens.) to seize, to grasp. [Hand.]

Hendecagon, hen-dek′a-gon, n. a plane figure of eleven angles and eleven sides.—adj. Hendecag′onal. [Gr. hendeka, eleven, gōnia, an angle.]

Hendecasyllable, hen′dek-a-sil-a-bl, n. a metrical line of eleven syllables.—adj. Hendecasyllab′ic. [Gr. hendeka, eleven, syllabē, a syllable.]

Hendiadys, hen-dī′a-dis, n. a rhetorical figure in which one and the same notion is presented in two expressions, as 'with might and main'=by main strength. [Gr. hen dia dyoin, lit. 'one by two.']

Henequen, hen′ē-ken, n. a fibre known as sisal-hemp, used for ships' cables, obtained chiefly from Agave Ixtli of Yucatan, also the plant itself.—Also Hen′equin, Hen′iquin. [Sp. jeniquen.]

Henna, hen′a, n. a small Oriental shrub of the loosestrife family, with fragrant white flowers: a pigment made from the shrub for dyeing the nails and hair. [Ar. henna.]

Henotheism, hen′ō-thē-izm, n. the ascribing of supreme power to some one of several gods in turn: the belief in a special supreme god over a particular people—a national or relative monotheism.—adj. Henotheist′ic. [Gr. heis (hen-), one, theos, god, and suff. -ism.]

Henotic, hen-ot′ik, adj. tending to unify or reconcile. [Gr. henōtikos—heis, one.]

Henry, hen′ri, n. (electr.) the practical unit of self-induction—from Joseph Henry, American physicist (1797-1878).

Hent, hent (Spens.), pa.t. of hend.—n. hold.

Hent, hent, v.t. to clear, go beyond. [A.S. hentan, to seize.]

Hep, hep, n. See Hip, the fruit of the dog-rose.

Hep, hep, interj. a cry said to come down from the Crusaders' time, often the cry of the mob in an outrage on the Jews—more probably an abbreviation of Hebrew than formed from the initials of Hierosolyma est perdita=Jerusalem is destroyed.

Hepar, hē′par, n. the name given by the older chemists to various compounds of sulphur, from their brown, liver-like colour.—adj. Hepat′ic, belonging to the liver.—ns.pl. Hepat′ica, medicines which affect the liver and its appendages; Hepat′icæ, the liver-worts, a sub-class of bryophytic or moss-like plants.—n. Hepatisā′tion, consolidation of tissue, as of the lungs in pneumonia, resulting in a liver-like solidification.—v.t. Hep′atise, to convert into a substance resembling liver.—ns. Hep′atīte, a variety of barium sulphate or barite, with a characteristic stink; Hepatī′tis, inflammation of the liver; Hep′atocele, hernia of the liver; Hepatol′ogist, a specialist in diseases of the liver; Hepatol′ogy, the science of, or a treatise on, the liver; Hepatorrhœ′a, a morbid flow of bile; Hepatos′copy, divination by inspection of the livers of animals. [Gr. hēpar, hēpătos, the liver.]

Heptachord, hep′ta-kord, n. in Greek music, a diatonic series of seven tones, containing five whole steps and one half-step: an instrument with seven strings.

Heptade, hep′tad, n. the sum or number of seven: (chem.) an atom, radical, or element having a combining power of seven. [Fr.,—Gr. heptas, heptados—hepta, seven.]

Heptaglot, hep′ta-glot, adj. in seven languages.—n. a book in seven languages. [Gr. heptaglōttos—hepta, seven, glōtta, glōssa, tongue.]

Heptagon, hep′ta-gon, n. a plane figure with seven angles and seven sides.—adj. Heptag′onal. [Gr. heptagōnos, seven-cornered—hepta, seven, gōnia, an angle.]

Heptagynia, hept-a-jin′i-a, n. an order of plants having seven styles.—adj. Heptag′ynous. [Gr. hepta, seven, gynē, a woman.]

Heptahedron, hep-ta-hē′dron, n. a solid figure with seven faces or sides.—adjs. Heptahē′dral, Heptahed′rical; Heptahexahē′dral, having seven ranges of faces one above another, each range containing six faces. [Gr. hepta, seven, hedrā, a seat, a base.]

Heptameride, hep-tam′e-rid, n. anything consisting of seven parts.—adj. Heptam′erous (bot.), consisting of seven members or parts.

Heptameron, hep′tam-e-ron, n. a book containing the transactions of seven days, esp. the 72 stories supposed to be told in seven days, bearing the name of Queen Margaret of Navarre (1492-1549). [Gr. hepta, seven, hēmera, a day.]

Heptameter, hep′tam-e-tėr, n. a verse of seven measures. [Gr. hepta, seven, metron, measure.]

Heptandria, hept-an′dri-a, n. a class of plants having seven stamens.—adj. Heptan′drous. [Gr. hepta, seven, anēr, andros, a man.]

Heptangular, hept-ang′gū-lar, adj. having seven angles. [Gr. hepta, seven, and angular.]

Heptaphyllous, hep-ta-fil′us, adj. having seven leaves.

Heptapody, hep-tap′o-di, n. a verse of seven feet.—adj. Heptapod′ic.

Heptarchy, hep′tär-ki, n. a government by seven persons: the country governed by seven: a period in the Saxon history of England—a misleading term in any other meaning than merely this, that the chief kingdoms at various periods from the 5th to the 9th century were seven—Wessex, Sussex, Kent, Essex, East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria.—ns. Hep′tarch, Hep′tarchist.—adj. Heptar′chic. [Gr. hepta, seven, archē, sovereignty.]

Heptaspermous, hep-ta-sper′mus, adj. having seven seeds.

Heptasyllabic, hep-ta-si-lab′ik, adj. seven-syllabled, like the second half of the elegiac pentameter.

Heptateuch, hep′ta-tūk, n. a word sometimes used for the first seven books of the Old Testament—formed on the analogy of Pentateuch and Hexateuch. [Gr. hepta, seven, teuchos, an instrument, a volume.]

Her, hėr, pron. objective and possessive case of she.—adj. belonging to a female. [M. E. here—A.S. hire, gen. and dat. sing. of heó, she.]

Heraclean, Heracleian, her-a-klē′an, adj. pertaining to Hercules.—adj. Heraclī′dan, Heraclei′dan, pertaining to the Heracleidæ or descendants of Heracles (Hercules), the aristocracy of Sparta.—n. Heraclid′, one claiming such descent.

Herald, her′ald, n. in ancient times, an officer who made public proclamations and arranged ceremonies: in medieval times, an officer who had charge of all the etiquette of chivalry, keeping a register of the genealogies and armorial bearings of the nobles: an officer whose duty is to read proclamations, to blazon the arms of the nobility, &c.: a proclaimer: a forerunner: the red-breasted merganser, usually Her′ald-duck.—v.t. to introduce, as by a herald: to proclaim.—adj. Heral′dic, of or relating to heralds or heraldry.—adv. Heral′dically.—ns. Her′aldry, the art or office of a herald: the science of recording genealogies and blazoning coats of arms; Her′aldship.—Heralds' College (see College). [O. Fr. herault; of Teut. origin, Old High Ger. hari (A.S. here, Ger. heer), an army, and wald=walt, strength, sway.]

Herb, hėrb, n. a plant the stem of which dies every year, as distinguished from a tree or shrub which has a permanent stem.—adj. Herbā′ceous, pertaining to, or of the nature of, herbs: (bot.) having a soft stem that dies to the root annually.—n. Herbage (hėrb′āj, or ėrb′āj), green food for cattle: pasture: herbs collectively.—adjs. Herb′aged, covered with grass; Herb′al, pertaining to herbs.—n. a book containing descriptions of plants with medicinal properties, orig. of all plants.—ns. Herb′alist, one who makes collections of herbs or plants: one skilled in plants; Herb′ar (Spens.), an herb; Herbā′rian, a herbalist; Herbā′rium, a classified collection of preserved herbs or plants:—pl. Herbā′riums, Herbā′ria; Herb′ary, a garden of herbs; Herb′-benn′et (see Avens).—adjs. Herbes′cent, growing into herbs, becoming herbaceous; Herbif′erous, bearing herbs.—n. Herb′ist, a herbalist.—n.pl. Herbiv′ora, a name loosely applied to hoofed quadrupeds.—n.sing. Herb′ivore.—adjs. Herbiv′orous, eating or living on herbaceous plants; Herb′less.—ns. Herb′let (Shak.), a small herb; Herb′-of-grace′, or -repent′ance, the common rue, the vervain; Herborisā′tion, the seeking for plants: (min.) the figure of plants.—v.i. Herb′orise, to search for plants: to botanise.—v.t. to form plant-like figures in, as in minerals.—n. Herb′orist, a herbalist.—adjs. Herb′ous, Herb′ose, abounding with herbs.—ns. Herb′-Par′is, Paris quadrifolia, related to wake-robin; Herb′-Pē′ter, the cowslip or primrose; Herb′-Rob′ert, a common kind of geranium; Herb′-trin′ity, the pansy.—adj. Herb′y, of or pertaining to herbs. [Fr. herbe—L. herba, akin to Gr. phorbē, pasture—pherbein, to feed.]

Herculanean, her-kū-lā′nē-an, adj. of or pertaining to Herculaneum, the ancient Roman city buried with Pompeii by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

Herculean, hėr-kū′lē-an, adj. of or pertaining to Hercules: extremely difficult or dangerous, as the twelve labours of the Greek hero Hercules: of extraordinary strength and size.—Hercules beetle, a gigantic Brazilian lamellicorn beetle, 6 in. long, with a long horn on the head of the male and a smaller one on the thorax; Hercules' choice, toil and duty chosen in preference to ease and pleasure—from a famous story in Xenophon's Memorabilia; Hercules club, a stick of great size and weight; Pillars of Hercules, the name given by the ancients to two rocks flanking the entrance to the Mediterranean at the Strait of Gibraltar.

Hercynian, her-sin′i-an, adj. of or pertaining to the forest-covered mountain region of northern Germany—apart the Harz Mountains.

Herd, hėrd, n. a number of beasts feeding together, and watched or tended: any collection of beasts, as distinguished from a flock: a company of people, the rabble.—v.i. to run in herds.—v.t. to tend, as a herdsman.—ns. Herd, one who tends a herd; Herd′groom (Spens.), a shepherd-lad; Herds′-grass, timothy-grass; Herds′man, a man employed to herd or tend cattle—(B.) Herd′man. [A.S. hirde, hierde; Ger. heerde, Sw. hjord.]

Herdic, her′dik, n. a low-hung two or four wheeled carriage with back entrance and side seats. [From the inventor, Peter Herdic of Pennsylvania.]

Here, hēr, adv. in this place: in the present life or state.—advs. Here′about, also -abouts, about this place; Hereaf′ter, after this, in some future time or state.—n. a future state.—advs. Here′at, at or by reason of this; Here′away (coll.), hereabout; Hereby′, not far off: by this; Herein′, in this: in regard to this; Hereinaf′ter, afterward in this (document, &c.):—opp. to Hereinbefore′; Hereof′, of this: as a result of this; Hereon′, on or upon this; Hereto′, till this time: for this object; Heretofore′, before this time: formerly; Hereunto′ (also -un′-), to this point or time; Hereupon′, on this: in consequence of this; Herewith′, with this.—Here and there, in this place, and then in that: thinly: irregularly; Here goes! an exclamation indicating that the speaker is about to do something; Here you are (coll.), this is what you want; Neither here nor there, of no special importance. [A.S. hér, from base of hé, he; Dut. and Ger. hier, Sw. här.]

Heredity, he-red′i-ti, n. the organic relation between generations, esp. between parents and offspring: the transmission of qualities from the parents or ancestors to their offspring.—adj. Hered′itable, that may be inherited.—ns. Heredit′ament, all property of whatever kind that may pass to an heir.—adv. Hered′itarily.—n. Hered′itariness, the quality of being hereditary.—adj. Hered′itary, descending by inheritance: transmitted from parents to their offspring. [L. hereditas, the state of an heir—heres, herēdis, an heir.]