halves (hævz, hävz) •n. pl. of HALF by halves 1 halfway; imperfectly 2 halfheartedly go halves to share expenses, etc. equally
halyard (hæl´yэrd) •n. a rope or tackle for raising or lowering a flag, sail, etc. [altered (after YARD¹) < ME halier < halien: see HALE²]
ham (hæm) •n. 1 the part of the leg behind the knee 2 a) the back of the thigh b) the thigh and the buttock together 3 the hock or hind leg of a four-legged animal 4 the upper part of a hog's hind leg, or meat from this, salted, dried, smoked, etc.: see PORK, illus. Æ 5 [Colloq.] a licensed amateur radio operator Æ 6 [Slang] an incompetent actor or performer, esp. one who overacts [< hamfatter, an actor of low grade, said to be so named from former use of ham fat to remove makeup] •vi., vt. hammed, ham´ming [Slang] to act with exaggeration; overact: often in ham it up [ME hamme < OE hamm, akin to Ger dial. hamme < IE base *konemo-, shin bone (> Gr knēmē): senses 5 & 6 infl. by AM(ATEUR)] Ham (hæm) Bible Noah's second son: Gen. 6:10
Hama or Hamah (hä´mä) city in W Syria: pop. 176,000: called, in the Bible, Ha·math (hei´mæθ)
Hamadan (hæm´э dæn') city in W Iran: noted for carpets and rugs made there: pop. 165,000
hamadryad (hæm'э drai´æd', -эd) •n. 1 [also H-] Gr. Myth. a dryad, specif. a wood nymph whose life is bound up with that of the tree in which she lives 2 KING COBRA 3 an Arabian and N African baboon (Papio hamadryas) with ashy-gray fur: in this sense, usually ham'a·dry´as' (-æs', -эs) [L Hamadryas < Gr < hama, together with + dryas, DRYAD]
hamal (hэ mäl´, -möl´) •n. in the Middle East, a porter Also ha·maul´ (-möl´) [Ar hammāl < hamala, to carry]
Hamamatsu (hä´mä mä´tsu:) city on the SC coast of Honshu, Japan: pop. 510,000
Haman (hei´mэn) Bible a Persian official who sought the destruction of the Jews and was hanged when his plot was exposed to Ahasuerus by Esther: Esth. 7
hamartia (hä'mär ti:´э) •n. TRAGIC FLAW [Gr < hamartanein, to err]
hamate bone (hei´meit') a wedgelike bone on the side of the wrist connecting the wrist with the fourth and fifth metacarpals, which connect to the ring and little fingers
Hambletonian (hæm'bэl tou´ni: эn) •n. an annual harness race for three-year-old trotters [name of a famous American stallion (1849-76)]
hambone (hæm´boun') •n. 1 the bone of a HAM (sense 4) Æ 2 [Slang] an amateur or incompetent actor or musician, esp. a performer who deliberately overacts Æ -boned', -bon'ing •vi., vt. [Slang] HAM
Hamburg (hæm´bэrg; Ger häm´buřkh) seaport and state of N Germany, on the Elbe River: 292 sq. mi. (755 sq. km); pop. 1,600,000 •n. any of a variety of small chicken of European origin, having dark plumage with white markings and dark-blue legs
hamburger (hæm´børg'эr) •n. 1 ground beef 2 a fried, broiled, or baked patty of such meat 3 a sandwich made with such a patty, usually in a round bun Also ham´burg [earlier Hamburg steak, after prec.]
Hamden (hæm´dэn) suburb of New Haven, in S Conn.: pop. 52,000 [after J. Hampden (1594-1643), Puritan leader]
hame¹ (heim) •n. either of the two rigid pieces along the sides of a horse's collar, to which the traces are attached [ME < MDu, horse collar, akin to ON hamr < IE base *em-, to cover > HEAVEN]
hame² (heim) •n. [Scot.] home
Hamelin (hæm´э lin) city in NW Germany, in the state of Lower Saxony: pop. 56,000: see PIED PIPER (OF HAMELIN): Ger. name Ha·meln (hä´mэln)
ham-handed (hæm´hæn'did) •adj. clumsy, graceless, or tactless; inept Also [Chiefly Brit.] ham´-fist'ed
Hamhung (häm´huŋ') city in E central North Korea: pop. 420,000
Hamilcar Barca (hэ mil´kär bär´kэ; hæm´ªl kär') c. 270-c. 228 B.C.; Carthaginian general: father of Hannibal
Hamilton (hæm´эl tªn) 1 Alexander c. 1755-1804; Am. statesman: 1st secretary of the U.S. treasury (1789-95) 2 Edith 1867-1963; U.S. educator, writer, & classical scholar 3 Emma Lady (born Amy Lyon) c. 1765-1815; mistress of Lord Nelson Hamilton (hæm´эl tªn) 1 city & port in SE Ontario, Canada, at the W end of Lake Ontario: pop. 307,000 (met. area 557,000) [after G. Hamilton, local farmer (c. 1813)] 2 city in SW Ohio, near Cincinnati: pop. 61,000 [after Alexander HAMILTON] 3 city in N North Island, New Zealand: pop. 157,000 4 city in SC Scotland, near Glasgow, on the Clyde River: pop. 51,000 5 capital of Bermuda, on the main island: pop. 6,000 6 river in S Labrador, flowing east to Hamilton Inlet, an arm of the Atlantic: 208 mi. (with upper course, 560 mi.)
Hamiltonian (hæm'эl tou´ni: эn) •adj. of or characteristic of Alexander Hamilton or his federalist principles •n. a follower of Alexander Hamilton
hamish (heim´ish) •adj. var. of HAIMISH
Hamite (hæm´ait') •n. 1 a person regarded as descended from Ham 2 a member of any of several usually dark-skinned Caucasoid peoples native to N and E Africa, including the Egyptians, Berbers, etc.
Hamitic (hæm it´ik, hэ mit´-) •n. an obsolete grouping within the Afroasiatic language family, including the Berber, Cushitic, and Egyptian languages •adj. designating or of the Hamites or Hamitic
Hamito-Semitic (hæm´i tou'sэ mit´ik) •adj. AFROASIATIC
hamlet (hæm´lit) •n. a very small village [ME hamelet < OFr (Anglo-Fr hamelete), dim. of hamel (Fr hameau), dim. of LowG hamm, enclosed area, akin to OE: for IE base see HEM¹] Hamlet (hæm´lit) 1 a tragedy by Shakespeare (c. 1602) 2 the hero of this play, a Danish prince who avenges the murder of his father, the king, by killing his uncle Claudius, the murderer
hammada (hэ mä´dэ) •n. a desert plateau of hard, wind-swept bedrock covered with a thin layer of sand, pebbles, etc. Also ha·ma´da
Hammarskjöld (håm´åř shüld'), Dag (Hjalmar Agne Carl) (dåg) 1905-61; Swed. statesman: secretary-general of the United Nations (1953-61)
hammer (hæm´эr) •n. 1 a tool for pounding, usually consisting of a metal head fastened across one end of a handle: one end of the head may be a pronged claw for pulling nails 2 a thing like this tool in shape or use; specif., a) the mechanism that strikes the firing pin or percussion cap in a firearm b) a device for striking a bell, gong, metal bar, etc. to make a sound c) any of the felt-covered mallets that strike against the strings of a piano d) a high-speed, hammering power tool fitted with a metal block or chisel, for shaping metal, breaking up paved surfaces, etc. 3 the malleus, one of the three bones of the middle ear: see EAR¹, illus. 4 an auctioneer's gavel 5 a metal ball weighing usually sixteen pounds, hung from a wire handle and thrown for distance in a track-and-field competition •vt. 1 to strike repeatedly with or as with a hammer 2 to make or fasten with a hammer 3 to drive, force, or shape with or as with hammer blows {to hammer an idea into someone's head} •vi. to strike repeated blows with or as with a hammer hammer and tongs with all one's might; very vigorously [with reference to a blacksmith's work] hammer (away) at 1 to work continuously or energetically at 2 to keep emphasizing or talking about hammer out 1 to shape, construct, or produce by hammering 2 to make flat by hammering 3 to take out by or as by hammering 4 to develop or work out by careful thought or repeated effort under the hammer for sale at auction [cf. n. 4] ham´mer·er •n. [ME hamer < OE hamor, akin to Ger hammer, ON hamarr, crag, cliff < IE *omor-, stone hammer < base *ak-m- < a-, sharp, sharp stone > Gr akmē, point, akmōn, anvil]
hammer and sickle the emblem of Communist parties in some countries, consisting of a sickle (symbolizing peasants) placed across a hammer (symbolizing workers)
hammered (hæm´эrd) •adj. shaped or marked by hammer blows: said of metal work
Hammerfest (häm´эr fest') seaport on an island in N Norway: northernmost city in the world: pop. 7,500
hammerhead (hæm´эr hed') •n. 1 the head of a hammer 2 any of a family (Sphyrnidae, order Carcharhiniformes) of large, tropical sharks that have a mallet-shaped head with an eye near the center of each end 3 a very large African fruit bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus) with a large horselike head 4 a large, brownish, crested African wading bird (Scopus umbretta) of a family (Scopidae) with only one species
hammerless (-lis) •adj. having the hammer or other striking device enclosed, as some firearms
hammerlock (-läk') •n. a wrestling hold in which one arm of the opponent is twisted upward behind the opponent's back
Hammersmith (hæm´эr smiθ') borough of Greater London, England: pop. 150,000: in full Hammersmith and Fulham
Hammerstein II (hæm´эr stain'), Oscar 1895-1960; U.S. librettist & lyricist of musical comedies
hammertoe (-tou') •n. 1 a condition in which the first joint of a toe is permanently bent downward, resulting in a clawlike deformity 2 such a toe
hammock¹ (hæm´эk) •n. a length of netting, canvas, etc. swung from ropes at both ends and used as a bed or couch [Sp hamaca, of Arawakan orig.]
hammock² (hæm´эk) •n. Æ [South] a fertile, raised area with hardwood trees [var. of HUMMOCK]
Hammond (hæm´эnd) city in NW Ind., near Chicago: pop. 84,000 Etymology [after G. H. Hammond, local meatpacker]
Hammurabi (hä'mu rä´bi:, hæm'э-) fl. 18th cent. B.C.; king of Babylon: a famous code of laws is attributed to him
hammy (hæm´i:) -mi·er, -mi·est •adj. Æ [Slang] like or characteristic of a ham (actor); overacting
hamper¹ (hæm´pэr) •vt. to keep from moving or acting freely; hinder; impede; encumber [northern ME hampren, akin to hamelian, to maim (with freq. -er & intrusive -p-) < IE base *kem-, to press together > HEM¹]
hamper² (hæm´pэr) •n. a large basket, usually with a cover [var. of HANAPER]
Hampshire (hæmp´shir, hæm´-) 1 county on the S coast of England: 1,457 sq. mi.: (3,773 sq. km); pop. 1,509,000; county seat, Winchester 2 a former county of England including present-day Hampshire & the Isle of Wight
Hampstead (-stid, -sted) former metropolitan borough of London, now part of borough of Camden
Hampton (-tэn) seaport in SE Va., on Hampton Roads: pop. 134,000 [after a town in England] Hampton (-tэn), Wade 1818-1902; U.S. politician & Confederate general
Hampton Roads channel & harbor in SE Va., linking the James River estuary with Chesapeake Bay [see HAMPTON & ROAD (sense 4)]
hamster (hæm´stэr) •n. any of several burrowing rodents (family Cricetidae) of Europe and Asia, with large cheek pouches: one species (Mesocricetus auratus) is used in scientific experiments or is often kept as a pet [Ger < OHG hamustro, prob. < OSlav choměstorǔ < or akin to Iran hamaēstar, one who knocks down]
hamstring (hæm´striŋ') •n. 1 one of the tendons at the back of the human knee 2 the large tendon at the back of the hock in a four-legged animal •vt. -strung', -string'ing 1 to disable by cutting a hamstring 2 to lessen or destroy the power or effectiveness of
Hamsun (häm´sun; E hæm´sэn), Knut (knu:t) (born Knut Pedersen) 1859-1952; Norw. novelist
hamulus (hæm´yu: lэs) pl. -u·li' (-lai') •n. a small hook or hook-shaped part, as at the ends of the barbicels of feathers or at the ends of some bones [ModL < L, dim. of hamus, a hook]
Han (hän) a Chinese dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 220) characterized by the introduction of Buddhism, a renewal of the arts, and territorial expansion •n. an ethnic group in China constituting the majority of the Chinese and distinguished from the Manchus, Mongols, etc. Han (hän) river in central China, flowing from Shaanxi province southeast into the Chang at Wuhan: c. 900 mi. (1,450 km)
Han Cities see WUHAN
hanaper (hæn´э pэr) •n. a small wicker container formerly used to hold official papers [ME haniper < OFr hanapier, a container for cups < hanap, a cup < Frank *hnap, a beaker (akin to Ger napf)]
Hancock (hæn´käk) 1 John 1737-93; Am. statesman: president of the Continental Congress (1775-77) & 1st signer of the Declaration of Independence: see also JOHN HANCOCK 2 Win·field Scott (win´fi:ld) 1824-86; Union general in the Civil War
Hand (hænd), (Billings) Lear·ned (lør´nid) 1872-1961; U.S. jurist hand (hænd) •n. I.1 the part of the human body attached to the end of the forearm, including the wrist, palm, fingers, and thumb 2 a corresponding part in some animals; specif., a) any of the four feet in apes, monkeys, etc., used like human hands for grasping and gripping b) the end part of the forelimb in many of the higher vertebrates c) the pincerlike claw of a crustacean 3 a side, direction, or position indicated by one hand or the other {at one's right hand} II. denoting some function or activity of the hand 1 the hand as an instrument for making or producing 2 the hand as a symbol of its grasping or gripping function; specif., a) [pl.] possession {the documents now in his hands} b) control; power; authority {to strengthen one's hand} c) [pl.] care; charge; supervision {in the hands of one's lawyer} d) agency; influence {to see someone's hand in a matter} e) an active part; share {take a hand in the work} 3 the hand as a symbol of promise; specif., a) a clasp or handshake as a pledge of agreement, friendship, etc. b) a promise to marry {he asked for her hand} III. denoting the manner in which the hand is used 1 skill; ability; dexterity {the work that shows a master's hand} 2 manner of doing something {to play the piano with a light hand} IV. denoting something produced by the hand 1 a) handwriting b) a signature 2 a clapping of hands; applause {to receive a big hand for one's performance} 3 assistance; aid; help {to lend a hand} V. denoting a person as producing or transmitting with the hands 1 a person whose chief work is done with the hands; esp., one of a staff or crew, as a sailor, farm laborer, etc. 2 a person regarded as having some special skill or characteristic {quite a hand at sewing} 3 a person (or, sometimes, thing) from or through which something comes; source [essays by several hands]: often used with an ordinal number [to get a story at second hand] VI. denoting something like a hand 1 a conventional drawing of a hand ( ) used on signposts, etc. 2 an indicator; pointer {the hands of a clock} 3 the breadth of the human palm, used as a unit of measurement, esp. for the height of horses: now usually taken to be 4 inches 4 Commerce a banana cluster VII. denoting something held in the hand 1 Card Games a) the cards held by a player at any one time b) the conventional number of cards dealt to each player c) a player d) a round of play Æ 2 a small tied bundle, esp. of tobacco leaves 3 the way cloth held in the hand feels •adj. 1 of or for the hand or hands 2 made by hand 3 controlled by hand; manual •vt. 1 to pass or give with or as with the hand; transfer; transmit; deliver Æ 2 to give; provide with {it handed them a laugh} 3 to help, conduct, steady, etc. by means of the hand {to hand a lady into her car} 4 Naut. to furl (a sail) (at) first hand from the original source; directly at hand 1 near; close by 2 immediately available (at) second hand 1 not from the original source; indirectly 2 not new; previously used at the hand (or hands) of through the action of by hand not by machines but with the hands change hands to pass from one owner to another eat out of someone's hand to be completely dominated by or devoted to someone force someone's hand to force someone to act, or declare intentions, before he or she is ready [orig. a whist term] from hand to hand from one person's possession to another's from hand to mouth with just enough for immediate needs and nothing left over for the future hand and foot 1 so that the hands and feet cannot move {bound hand and foot} 2 constantly and diligently {to wait on someone hand and foot} hand down 1 to give as an inheritance; bequeath Æ 2 to announce or deliver (a verdict, etc.) hand in to give; submit hand in (or and) glove in intimate association; in close agreement or cooperation hand in hand 1 holding each other's hand 2 together; in cooperation or correlation Æ hand it to [Slang] to give deserved credit to hand on to pass along; transmit hand out to distribute; deal out hand over to give up; deliver hand over fist [Colloq.] easily and in large amounts hands down without effort; easily hands off! don't touch! don't interfere! hands up! Æ raise your hands over your head!: an order given by a person pointing a gun, etc. hand to hand at close quarters: said of fighting have one's hands full to be extremely busy; be doing as much as one can hold hands to hold each other's hand, esp. in affection in hand 1 in order or control 2 in possession 3 being worked on; in process join hands 1 to become associates; enter into partnership 2 to become husband and wife keep one's hand in to keep in practice in order to retain one's skill lay hands on 1 to attack, injure, or punish physically 2 to get hold of; seize; take 3 to place the hands on ceremonially, as in blessing or ordaining not lift a hand to do nothing; not even try off one's hands no longer in one's care; out of one's responsibility on every hand on all sides; in all directions on hand 1 near Æ 2 available or ready Æ 3 present on one's hands in one's care; being one's responsibility on the one hand from one point of view on the other hand from the opposed point of view out of hand 1 out of control 2 immediately; without preliminaries or delay 3 over and done with show one's hand to disclose one's intentions [orig. with reference to card playing] take in hand 1 to take control of or responsibility for 2 to take up; handle; treat 3 to try; attempt throw up one's hands to give up in despair to hand 1 near; accessible 2 in one's possession turn (or put) one's hand to to undertake; work at wash one's hands of to refuse to go on with or take responsibility for with a heavy hand 1 in a heavy manner; without delicacy or grace 2 with severity or sternness with a high hand with arrogance; in an arbitrary or dictatorial manner with clean hands without guilt; as an innocent person [ME < OE, akin to Goth handus < base of -hinthan, to seize (hence, basic sense grasper) < ? IE base *kent-, ? to seize]
hand- (hænd) combining form of, with, by, or for a hand or hands {handclasp, handcuff}
hand ax (or axe) a stone tool of the Paleolithic period rounded at one end for grasping and flaked to make sharp edges and a point at the other end
hand glass 1 a magnifying glass 2 a small mirror with a handle
hand grenade a small grenade thrown by hand and exploded by a timed fuze or by impact
hand organ a barrel organ played by turning a crank by hand
handbag (hænd´bæg') •n. 1 a bag, usually of leather or cloth, held in the hand or hung by a strap from the arm or shoulder and used, esp. by women, to carry money, keys, and personal effects 2 a small suitcase or valise
handball (-böl') •n. 1 a game in which a small ball is batted against a wall or walls with the hand, alternately by opposing teams of one or two players 2 the small rubber ball used in this game
handbarrow (-bær'ou) •n. a frame carried by two people, each holding a pair of handles attached at either end
handbasket (hænd´bæs'kit) •n. [Obs.] a small basket to hell in a handbasket [Old Slang] to one's doom
handbill (-bil') •n. a small printed notice, advertisement, etc. to be passed out by hand
handblown (-bloun´) •adj. shaped individually by a glass blower: said of glassware
handbook (hænd´buk') •n. 1 a compact reference book on some subject; manual of facts or instructions 2 GUIDEBOOK Æ 3 a book in which bets are recorded, as on horse races [OE handboc, transl. of L manuale (see MANUAL): modern senses infl. by Ger handbuch]
handbreadth (hænd´bredθ') •n. the breadth of the human palm: see HAND (n. V 3)
handcar (-kär') •n. a small, open car, orig. hand-powered, used on railroads, as to transport workers
handcart (-kärt') •n. a small cart, often with only two wheels, pulled or pushed by hand
handclasp (-klæsp') •n. a clasping of each other's hand as in greeting or farewell
handcraft (-kræft') •n. HANDICRAFT •vt. to make by hand with craftsmanship hand´craft'ed •adj.
handcuff (hænd´kûf') •n. either of a pair of connected metal rings that can be locked about the wrists, as in restraining a prisoner or fastening him to a policeman: usually used in pl. •vt. 1 to put handcuffs on; manacle 2 to check or hinder the activities of
-handed (hæn´did) combining form 1 having, or for use by one having, a (specified) handedness {right-handed} 2 having or using a (specified) number of hands {two-handed} 3 involving (a specified number of) players {three-handed pinochle}
handedness (-nis) •n. ability in using one hand more skillfully than, and in preference to, the other
Handel (hæn´dªl), George Fri·der·ic (fri:´dэr ik, -drik) (born Georg Friedrich Händel) 1685-1759; Eng. composer, born in Germany Han·de·li·an (hæn del´i: эn, -di:´li:-; -del´yэn, -di:l´-) •adj.
handfast (hænd´fæst') •n. [Obs.] 1 a firm hold, as with the hands 2 a contract, esp. of marriage or betrothal, confirmed by a handclasp •adj. 1 [Obs.] betrothed or married 2 [Rare] tightfisted •vt. [Obs.] to betroth or marry by joining hands [ME handfasten < OE handfæstan, to make fast, ratify & < ON handfesta: see HAND & FASTEN] [< the vt.]
handfasting (-fæst'iŋ) •n. [Archaic] 1 a betrothal 2 a form of irregular or trial marriage confirmed by a joining of hands [OE handfæstunge: see HANDFAST]
hand-feed (hænd´fi:d') -fed', -feed'ing •vt. to feed by hand
handful (hænd´ful') pl. -fuls' •n. 1 as much or as many as the hand will hold 2 a relatively small number or amount {a mere handful of people} 3 [Colloq.] as much as one is able to manage; someone or something hard to manage [ME < OE handfull]
handgrip (hænd´grip') •n. 1 a handclasp or handshake 2 a handle or a grip, as on a bicycle handlebar come to handgrips to engage in hand-to-hand fighting
handgun (hænd´gûn') •n. any firearm that is held and fired with one hand, as a pistol
handhold (hænd´hould') •n. 1 a secure grip or hold with the hand or hands 2 a part or thing to take hold of
handicap (hæn´di kæp', -di:-) •n. 1 a) a race or other competition in which difficulties are imposed on the superior contestants, or advantages given to the inferior, to make their chances of winning equal b) such a difficulty or advantage 2 a) something that hampers a person; disadvantage; hindrance b) a physical disability •vt. -capped', -cap'ping 1 to give a handicap to (contestants) 2 to cause to be at a disadvantage; hinder; impede the handicapped those who are physically disabled or mentally retarded [orig. a game in which forfeits were drawn from a cap or hat < hand in cap]
handicapper (-kæp'эr) •n. 1 an official who assigns handicaps to contestants, as in a tournament Æ 2 a person, as a sports writer, who tries to predict the winners in horse races on the basis of past records, track conditions, etc.
handicraft (hæn´di kræft', -di:-) •n. 1 expertness with the hands; manual skill 2 an occupation or art calling for skillful use of the hands, as weaving, pottery, etc. 3 work done or articles made by manual skills hand´i·crafts'man (-kræfs'mэn), pl. -men (-mэn), •n. [ME handiecrafte, altered (infl. by handiwerk, HANDIWORK) < handcrafte < OE handcræft]
handily (hæn´dэ li:) •adv. 1 in a handy manner; deftly or conveniently 2 with no trouble; easily {to win handily}
handiness (hæn´di: nis) •n. the quality of being handy
handiwork (hæn´dэ wørk', -di:-) •n. 1 HANDWORK 2 anything made or done by a particular person [ME handiwerk < OE handgeweorc < hand (see HAND) + geweorc < ge-, collective prefix + weorc, WORK]
handkerchief (hæŋ´kэr chif'; also, -chi:f') pl. -chiefs' (-chifs', -chivz'; -chi:fs', -chi:vz') •n. 1 a small, square piece of linen, cotton, silk, etc., for wiping the nose, eyes, or face, or carried or worn for ornament 2 KERCHIEF [HAND + KERCHIEF]
hand-knit (hænd´nit') •adj. knit by hand instead of by machine Also hand´-knit'ted
handle (hæn´dэl) •n. 1 that part of a utensil, tool, etc. which is to be held, turned, lifted, pulled, etc. with the hand 2 a thing like a handle in appearance or use 3 the total amount of money bet over a specified period of time, as at a racetrack Æ 4 [Colloq.] a person's name, nickname, or title •vt. -dled, -dling [ME handlien < OE handlian] 1 to touch, lift, etc. with the hand or hands 2 to manage, operate, or use with the hand or hands; manipulate 3 to manage, control, direct, train, etc. 4 a) to deal with or treat in a particular way {to handle a problem tactfully} b) to deal with successfully or appropriately c) [Colloq.] to come to terms with psychologically {he can't handle it} Æ 5 to sell or deal in (a certain commodity) 6 to behave toward; treat •vi. to respond or submit to control {the car handles well} Æ fly off the handle [Colloq.] to become suddenly or violently angry or excited get a handle on [Colloq.] to find a means of dealing with, understanding, etc. SYN.—handle implies the possession of sufficient (or a specified degree of) skill in managing or operating with or as with the hands [to handle a tool or a problem]; manipulate suggests skill, dexterity, or craftiness in handling [to manipulate a machine or an account]; wield implies skill and control in handling effectively [to wield an ax, to wield influence]; ply suggests great diligence in operating [to ply an oar, to ply one's trade] [ME handil < OE handle (akin to Du handel) < hand, HAND]
handlebar (hæn´dэl bär') •n. 1 [often pl.] a curved or bent metal bar with handles on the ends, for steering a bicycle, motorcycle, etc. Æ 2 [Colloq.] a mustache with long, curved ends, resembling a handlebar: in full, handlebar mustache
handler (hænd´lэr) •n. a person or thing that handles; specif., a) a boxer's trainer and second b) a person who trains and manages a horse, dog, etc. in a show or contest
handless (hænd´lis) •adj. 1 not having any hands 2 [Dial.] inexpert, clumsy, or awkward
handmade (hænd´meid') •adj. made by hand, not by machine; made by a process requiring manual skills
handmaiden (hænd´meid'ªn) •n. 1 [Archaic] a woman or girl servant or attendant 2 that which accompanies in a useful but subordinate capacity {law is the handmaiden of justice} Also hand´maid'
hand-me-down (hænd´mi: daun') •n. [Colloq.] something, esp. an article of clothing, which is used and then passed along to someone else •adj. [Colloq.] 1 used; secondhand 2 ready-made and cheap
handoff (hænd´öf') •n. Football an offensive maneuver in which a back, esp. the quarterback, hands the ball directly to another back
handout (hænd´aut') •n. 1 a gift of food, clothing, etc., as to a beggar 2 a pamphlet, leaflet, etc. handed out as for publicity or information 3 NEWS RELEASE
handpick (hænd´pik´) •vt. 1 to pick (fruit or vegetables) by hand 2 to choose with care or for a special purpose, as to gain an advantage hand´picked´ •adj.
handrail (hænd´reil') •n. a rail serving as a guard or support to be held by the hand, as along a staircase or ramp
hand-running (hænd´rûn´iŋ) •adv. [Colloq. or Dial.] in succession; without break or interruption Also hand running
handsaw (-sö') •n. a saw held in one hand and operated manually: see SAW¹, illus.
hand's-breadth (hændz´bredθ') •n. HANDBREADTH
handsel (hænd´sэl, hæn´sэl) •n. 1 a present for good luck, as at the new year or on the launching of a new business 2 [Rare] a) a first payment or first installment b) the first money taken in by a new business or on any day of business 3 the first use or specimen of anything, regarded as a token of what is to follow •vt. -seled or -selled, -sel·ing or -sel·ling [ME handsellen < ON handselja] 1 to give a handsel to 2 to begin or launch with ceremony and gifts 3 to use, do, etc. for the first time [ME handsel < OE (rare) handselen, a giving into hand & ON handsal, sealing of a bargain by a handclasp (transl. of L mancipatio: see EMANCIPATION), both < hand + IE base of SELL]
handset (hænd´set') •n. a telephone mouthpiece, receiver, and dial or push buttons in a single unit, for holding in one hand
handshake (-sheik') •n. a gripping and shaking of each other's hand in greeting, farewell, agreement, etc.
hands-off (hændz´öf´) •adj. designating or of a policy, attitude, etc. of not interfering or intervening
handsome (hæn´sэm, hænd´-) •adj. 1 a) [Now Rare] moderately large b) large; impressive; considerable {a handsome sum} 2 generous; magnanimous; gracious {a handsome gesture} 3 good-looking; of pleasing appearance: said esp. of attractiveness that is manly, dignified, or impressive rather than delicate and graceful {a handsome lad, a handsome chair} SYN. BEAUTIFUL hand´some·ly •adv. hand´some·ness •n. [orig., easily handled, convenient < ME handsom: see HAND & -SOME¹]
hands-on (hændz´än´) •adj. designating or of an activity, training, etc. in which one participates actively
handspike (hænd´spaik') •n. a heavy bar used as a lever, as in turning a capstan [altered (by assoc. with SPIKE¹) < Du handspaeke (modern Du handspaak) < hand, hand + spaeke, rod, pole]
handspring (-spriŋ') •n. a tumbling feat in which the performer turns over in midair with one or both hands touching the ground
handstamp (-stæmp') •n. 1 RUBBER STAMP 2 a rubber stamp used to postmark stamps •vt. to postmark (a stamp) with a handstamp
handstand (-stænd') •n. a gymnastic feat of supporting oneself upside down on the hands with the body held vertically
hand-to-hand (hænd´tu: hænd´) •adj. in close contact; at close quarters: said of fighting
hand-to-mouth (-mauθ´) •adj. characterized by the necessity of spending or consuming all that is obtained; at or below the level of mere subsistence
handwork (hænd´wørk') •n. work done or made by hand, not by machine hand´worked' •adj.
hand-woven (-wou´vэn) •adj. 1 woven on a loom operated manually, not by machine power 2 woven by hand, as baskets or chair seats
handwriting (hænd´rait'iŋ) •n. 1 writing done by hand, with pen, pencil, chalk, etc. 2 a style or way of forming letters and words in writing 3 [Archaic] something written by hand; manuscript see the handwriting on the wall to foresee impending disaster or misfortune: Dan. 5:5-28
handwritten (hænd´rit'ªn) •adj. written by hand, with pen, pencil, etc.
Handy (hæn´di:), W(illiam) C(hristopher) 1873-1958; U.S. jazz musician & composer handy (hæn´di:) hand´i·er, hand´i·est •adj. 1 close at hand; easily reached; conveniently located; accessible 2 easily used; saving time or work; convenient {a handy device} 3 easily managed or handled: said of a ship, etc. 4 clever with the hands; deft; adroit SYN. DEXTEROUS [HAND + -Y³]
handyman (hæn´di: mæn') pl. -men' •n. a man employed at various small tasks; one who does odd jobs
hang (hæŋ) hung, hang´ing •vt. ; for vt. 3 & vi. 5, hanged is the preferred pt. & pp. 1 to attach to something above with no support from below; suspend 2 to attach so as to permit free motion at the point of attachment {to hang a door on its hinges} 3 to put to death by tying a rope about the neck and suddenly suspending the body so as to snap the neck or cause strangulation 4 to fasten (pictures, etc.) to a wall by hooks, wires, etc. 5 to ornament or cover with things suspended {to hang a room with pictures and drapes} 6 to paste (wallpaper) to walls 7 to exhibit (pictures) in a museum or gallery 8 to let (one's head) droop downward 9 to fasten (an ax head, scythe blade, etc.) with correct balance 10 to pin and sew the hem of (a dress) evenly at a desired distance from the floor Æ 11 to deadlock (a jury) by one's vote 12 to fix (something) on a person or thing •vi. 1 to be attached to something above with no support from below 2 to hover or float in the air, as though suspended 3 to swing, as on a hinge 4 to fall, flow, or drape, as cloth, a coat, etc. 5 to die by hanging 6 a) to incline; lean b) to droop; bend 7 to be doubtful or undecided; hesitate 8 to have one's pictures exhibited in a museum or gallery •n. 1 the way that a thing hangs 2 a pause in, or suspension of, motion Æ get (or have) the hang of 1 to learn (or have) the knack of 2 to understand the significance or idea of hang a left (or right) [Slang] to turn to the left (or right), as in driving a car Æ hang around (or about) 1 to cluster around 2 [Colloq.] to loiter or linger around hang back (or off) to be reluctant to advance, as from timidity or shyness hang fire 1 to be slow in firing: said of a gun 2 to be slow in doing something 3 to be unsettled or undecided hang five (or ten) to ride a surfboard with the toes of one (or both) feet draped over the front edge of the board Æ hang in (there) [Colloq.] to hold steadfast; persevere hang it! an exclamation of anger or exasperation hang loose [Slang] to be relaxed, easygoing, etc. hang on 1 to keep hold 2 to go on doing; persevere 3 to depend on; be contingent on 4 to lean on; be supported by 5 to be a burden 6 to listen attentively to Æ hang one on [Slang] 1 to hit with a blow 2 to go on a drunken spree hang out 1 to lean out 2 to display, as by suspending 3 [Slang] a) to reside b) to spend much of one's time; frequent a place 4 [Slang] to loiter; idle hang over 1 to project over; overhang 2 to hover over 3 to loom over; threaten 4 to be left from a previous time or state hang to to hold or clutch tenaciously hang together 1 to stick or remain together 2 to make sense in a coherent way hang tough [Colloq.] to take a firm or defiant stand; be inflexible hang up 1 to put on a hanger, hook, etc., esp. in the proper place Æ 2 to put a telephone receiver or handset back in place in ending a call 3 to delay or suspend the progress of {cars that are hung up in traffic} not care (or give) a hang about to not care the least bit about [ME hangen, with form < OE vi. hangian & ON vi. hanga; senses < these, also < OE vt. hon & ON caus. v. hengja; akin to Ger vi. hangen, vt. hängen, to execute (caus.): all ult. < IE base *enk, to sway, hang (akin to *keg- > HOOK)]
hang gliding the sport of gliding through the air while hanging suspended by a harness from a large type of kite (hang glider)
hangar (hæŋ´эr; occas., -gэr) •n. any shelter used to house, repair, etc. an airplane •vt. to put or keep in a hangar [Fr, a shed, prob. < Frank *haimgard or MDu *hamgaerd, enclosed area: see HOME & YARD²]
hangbird (hæŋ´børd') •n. the Baltimore oriole or any other bird that builds a hanging nest
Hangchow (hæŋ´chau´) old form of HANGZHOU
hangdog (hæŋ´dög') •n. 1 orig., a person considered fit only for hanging dogs, or to be hanged like a dog 2 a contemptible, sneaking person •adj. 1 contemptible; sneaking 2 ashamed and cringing {a hangdog expression}
hanger (hæŋ´эr) •n. 1 a person who hangs things {a paperhanger} 2 [Rare] a hangman; executioner 3 a thing that hangs down; esp., a short sword formerly hung from the belt 4 a thing on which or by means of which objects are, or can be, hung; specif., a) a hook, chain, rope, strap, bracket, etc. for this purpose b) a small frame on which a garment is hung to keep it in shape
hanger-on (hæŋ´эr än´) pl. hang´ers-on´ •n. a follower or dependent; specif., a) a person who joins another, some group, etc. although not wanted b) a follower who seeks personal gain; sycophant; parasite [< HANG ON + -ER]
hanging (hæŋ´iŋ) •adj. 1 attached to something overhead and not supported from below; suspended; pendulous 2 designed for objects to be hung on 3 leaning over; inclining; overhanging 4 located on a steep slope or slant 5 deserving, causing, or inclined to impose the death penalty 6 designating or of indention in which the first line of a paragraph touches the left margin, the other lines being indented beneath it 7 not yet decided; unsettled 8 [Archaic] downcast; gloomy •n. 1 a suspending or being suspended 2 a putting to death by hanging 3 something hung on a wall, window, etc., as a drapery or tapestry
hangman (hæŋ´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. an executioner who hangs criminals condemned to death
hangnail (hæŋ´neil') •n. a bit of torn or cracked skin hanging at the side or base of a fingernail [altered (by pop. assoc. with HANG) < AGNAIL]
hangout (hæŋ´aut') •n. [Slang] a place frequented by some person or group
hangover (hæŋ´ou'vэr) •n. 1 something remaining from a previous time or state; a survival 2 headache, nausea, etc. as an aftereffect of drinking much alcoholic liquor
hangtag (hæŋ´tæg') •n. a tag attached to an article of merchandise, giving instructions for its use and care
hang-up (hæŋ´ûp') •n. [Slang] a problem or difficulty, esp. one of a personal or emotional nature that a person seems unable to deal with
Hangzhou (hän´jou´) port in E China: capital of Zhejiang province: pop. 4,020,000
hank (hæŋk) •n. 1 a loop or coil of something flexible 2 a specific length of coiled thread or yarn: a hank of worsted yarn contains 560 yd.; a hank of cotton contains 840 yd. 3 Naut. a ring or clip for fastening a staysail to its stay [LME, prob. < Scand, as in ON honk, a coil, skein, hanki, hasp, clasp < IE base *keg-, *kenk- > HOOK]
hanker (hæŋ´kэr) •vi. to crave, long, or yearn: followed by after, for, or an infinitive [Early ModE, prob. < Du or LowG source, as in Fl hankeren, to desire, long for, Du hunkeren, freq. formation & metaphoric extension < base of HANG]
hankering (-iŋ) •n. a craving; yearning
hankie (hæŋ´ki:) pl. -kies •n. [Colloq.] a handkerchief
Hankow (hæŋ´kau´) former city in EC China: see WUHAN
hanky-panky (hæŋ´ki: pæŋ´ki:) •n. [Colloq.] trickery or deception, orig. as used in tricks of illusion or sleight of hand, now esp. in connection with shady dealings or illicit sexual activity [altered ? after (SLEIGHT OF) HAND < HOCUS-POCUS]
Hanna (hæn´э), Mark (born Marcus Alonzo Hanna) 1837-1904; U.S. financier & politician
Hannah or Hanna (hæn´э) 1 a feminine name See ANNA, JOAN 2 Bible the mother of Samuel: 1 Sam. 1:20 [Heb Hannáh, lit., graciousness]
Hannibal (hæn´э bªl) 247-c. 183 B.C.; Carthaginian general: crossed the Alps to invade Italy in 218 B.C.
Hanoi (hä noi´, hæ-) city in N Vietnam, its capital: pop. 1,440,000
Hanover (hæn´ou vэr) 1 former province (1886-1945) of Prussia, in NW Germany: earlier, an electorate (1692-1815) & a kingdom (1815-86): now part the German state of Lower Saxony 2 city in NW Germany: capital of Lower Saxony: pop. 517,000 Hanover (hæn´ou vэr) name of the ruling family of England (1714-1901), founded by George I, orig. Elector of Hanover
Hanoverian (hæn'ou vir´i: эn, hæn'э-) •adj. 1 of Hanover, Germany 2 of the English royal house of Hanover •n. a supporter of the house of Hanover
Hans (hæns, hænz; Ger häns) a masculine name [Ger abbrev. of Johannes: equivalent to JACK]
hansa (hæn´sэ) •n. var. of HANSE
Hansard (hæn´sэrd) •n. the official record of proceedings in the British Parliament [after L. Hansard (1752-1828) and descendants, by whom the reports were compiled and printed until 1889]
hanse (hæns) •n. 1 a medieval guild of merchants 2 a fee paid to this guild the Hanse a medieval league of free towns in N Germany and adjoining countries, formed to promote and protect their economic interests: the leading members were Bremen, Lübeck, and Hamburg Also Hanseatic League or the Hansa [ME < MFr & < ML hansa, both < MHG & MLowG hanse, association of merchants < OHG hansa, band of men, akin to OE hos, a troop]
Hanseatic (hæn'si: æt´ik, -zi:-) •adj. of the Hanse or the towns that formed it [ML hanseaticus]
hansel (hæn´sэl) •n. HANDSEL
Hansen's disease (hæn´sэnz) LEPROSY [after A. Hansen (1841-1912), Norw physician who discovered its causative bacterium]
hansom (cab) (hæn´sэm) a 19th-cent. two-wheeled covered carriage for two passengers, pulled by one horse: the driver's seat is above and behind the cab [after J. A. Hansom (1803-82), Eng architect & inventor, who designed it]
Hanson (hæn´sªn), Howard 1896-1981; U.S. composer
hant or ha'nt (hænt) •vt., n. dial. var. of HAUNT
Hants (hænts) short for HAMPSHIRE
Hanuka (khä´nu kä', -kэ; hä´-) •n. a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 B.C. and celebrated for 8 days beginning the 25th day of Kislev Also Ha´nuk·kah' or Ha´nuk·ka' [TalmudHeb chanuka, lit., dedication < root hnx, inaugurate, dedicate]
hanuman (hän'u män´, hän´u män'; for demigod hûn'-) •n. a small, slender-bodied, leaf-eating monkey (Presbytis entellus) with a long tail, found in SE Asia [H-] Hindu Myth. a demigod in the form of a monkey [Hindi Hanumān < Sans hanumant, having (big) jaws < hánu-, jaw < IE base *genu- > CHIN]
Hanyang (häŋ´yäŋ´) former city in EC China: see WUHAN
haole (hä´ou lei') •n. in Hawaii, a non-Polynesian; esp., a white person, or Caucasian [Haw, foreigner]
hap¹ (hæp) •n. 1 chance; luck; lot 2 [Archaic] an occurrence or happening, esp. an unfortunate one: usually used in pl. •vi. happed, hap´ping to occur by chance; happen [ME happen < the n. or < ? (rare) OE hæppan, to go by chance < same base] [ME < ON happ, akin to OE (ge)hæp, convenient, suitable < IE base *kob-, to be fitted to, suit > OIr cob, victory]
hap² (häp, hæp) happed, hap´ping •vt. [Brit. Dial.] to cover, as with extra bedclothes •n. [Brit. Dial.] any covering [ME happen < ?]
hapax legomenon (hei´pæks' li gäm´э nän') pl. ha´pax' le·go´me·na' (-nä', -nэ) a word or phrase occurring only once [Gr, (something) said only once]
haphazard (hæp'hæz´эrd) •n. mere chance; accident; fortuity •adj. not planned; random •adv. by chance; casually SYN. RANDOM hap'haz´ard·ly •adv. hap'haz´ard·ness •n. [HAP¹ + HAZARD]
haphtara (häf'tä rä´; -tör´э) pl. -ta·roth (-tэ rout´, -tör´out') or -ta·ras (-tör´эz) •n. any of the readings from the Prophets, following the reading from the Pentateuch, in synagogue services on the Sabbath and holidays [TalmudHeb haftara, dismissal, release < hiftir, dismiss < root ptr, send away]
hapless (hæp´lis) •adj. unfortunate; unlucky; luckless hap´less·ly •adv. hap´less·ness •n. [HAP¹ + -LESS]
haplo- (hæp´lou, -lэ) combining form single, simple {haploid} Also, before a vowel, hapl- [< Gr haploos, single < IE *s##plos, SIMPLE]
haploid (hæp´loid') •adj. Biol. having the full number of chromosomes normally occurring in the mature germ cell or half the number of the usual somatic cell •n. a haploid cell or gamete hap´loi'dy (-loi'di:) •n. [< prec. + -OID]
haplology (hæp läl´э ji:) •n. the dropping of one of two similar or identical successive syllables or sounds in a word (Ex.: interpretive for interpretative) [HAPLO- + -LOGY]
haplont (hæp´länt') •n. an organism in which the nuclei of the somatic cells are haploid [HAPL(O)- + -ont < Gr ōn (gen. ontos): see ONTO-]
haplosis (hæp lou´sis) •n. Biol. a halving of the number of chromosomes during meiosis, through the division of a diploid cell into two haploids [HAPL(O)- + -OSIS]
haply (hæp´li:) •adv. [Archaic] by chance or accident; perhaps [ME hapliche: see HAP¹ & -LY²]
happen (hæp´эn) •vi. 1 to take place; occur; befall 2 to be or occur by chance or without plan {it happened to rain} 3 to have the luck or occasion; chance {I happened to see it} 4 to come by chance (along, by, in, etc.) happen on (or upon) to meet or find by chance happen to to be done to or be the fate of; befall SYN.—happen is the general word meaning to take place or come to pass and may suggest either direct cause or apparent accident; chance, more or less equivalent to happen, always implies apparent lack of cause in the event; occur is somewhat more formal and usually suggests a specific event at a specific time [what happened?, the accident occurred at four o'clock]; transpire is now frequently used as an equivalent for happen or occur [what transpired at the conference], apparently by confusion with its sense of to become known, or leak out [reports on the conference never transpired] [ME happenen: see HAP¹ & -EN]
happening (hæp´эn iŋ) •n. 1 something that happens; occurrence; incident; event Æ 2 a) a theatrical performance of unrelated and bizarre or ludicrous actions, often spontaneous and with some participation by the audience b) any event regarded as important, entertaining, newsworthy, etc.
happenstance (hæp´эn stæns') •n. [Colloq.] 1 chance; fortuity 2 a chance or accidental happening [HAPPEN + (CIRCUM)STANCE]
happi coat (hæp´i:) a short, lightweight Japanese coat worn with a narrow sash over regular clothes, as to protect them from soiling [< Jpn + COAT]
happy (hæp´i:) -pi·er, -pi·est •adj. 1 favored by circumstances; lucky; fortunate 2 having, showing, or causing a feeling of great pleasure, contentment, joy, etc.; joyous; glad; pleased 3 exactly appropriate to the occasion; suitable and clever; apt; felicitous {a happy suggestion} 4 intoxicated, or irresponsibly quick to act, as if intoxicated: sometimes used in hyphenated compounds: see SLAP-HAPPY, TRIGGER-HAPPY hap´pi·ly •adv. hap´pi·ness •n. SYN.—happy generally suggests a feeling of great pleasure, contentment, etc. [a happy marriage]; glad implies more strongly an exultant feeling of joy [your letter made her so glad], but both glad and happy are commonly used in merely polite formulas expressing gratification [I'm glad, or happy, to have met you]; cheerful implies a steady display of bright spirits, optimism, etc. [he's always cheerful in the morning]; joyful and joyous both imply great elation and rejoicing, the former generally because of a particular event, and the latter as a matter of usual temperament [the joyful throngs, a joyous family] —ANT. sad [ME happi < hap: see HAP¹]
happy hour a time, as in the late afternoon, when a bar or tavern features drinks at reduced prices
happy-go-lucky (hæp´i: gou lûk´i:) •adj. taking things as they come; easygoing; trusting to luck; lighthearted
Hapsburg (hæps´børg'; Ger häps´bu:řkh) name of a ruling family of Austria & Austria-Hungary (1278-1918), of Spain (1516-1700), & of the Holy Roman Empire (1438-1806)
hapten (hæp´ten') •n. a compound which, when coupled with a protein or other molecule, can cause the formation of antibodies Also hap·tene (hæp´ti:n') hap·ten·ic (hæp ten´ik) •adj. [Ger < Gr haptein, to fasten, touch + Ger -en, -ENE]
haptic (hæp´tik) •adj. of or having to do with the sense of touch; tactile [< Gr haptein, to touch + -IC]
haptoglobin (hæp´tэ glou'bin) •n. a blood protein that binds with free hemoglobin in the bloodstream or at a wound when red blood cells decompose or are destroyed abnormally in the circulation
hara-kiri (här´э kir´i:, hær´э-; popularly, her´i: ker´i:) •n. ritual suicide by cutting the abdomen: it is called seppuku by the Japanese, and was practiced by high-ranking Japanese of the military class in lieu of execution or to avoid disgrace [Jpn < hara, belly + kiri, a cutting, cut]
Harald (hær´эld; Norw hä´rэld) 1937- ; king of Norway (1991- )
harangue (hэ ræŋ´) •n. a long, blustering, noisy, or scolding speech; tirade •vi., vt. -rangued´, -rangu´ing to speak or address in a harangue ha·rangu´er •n. [ME (Scot) arang < OFr arenge < OIt aringa < aringo, site for horse races and public assemblies < Goth *hrings, circle: see RING²]
Harare (hä rä´ri:) capital of Zimbabwe, in the NE part; pop. 656,000
harass (hэ ræs´, hær´эs) •vt. 1 to trouble, worry, or torment, as with cares, debts, repeated questions, etc. 2 to trouble by repeated raids or attacks, etc.; harry har·ass´er •n. har·ass´ment •n. [Fr harasser < OFr harer, to set a dog on < hare, cry to incite dogs < OHG harēn, to call, cry out]
Harbin (här´bin) city in NE China, on the Songhua River; capital of Heilongjiang province: pop. 2,550,000
harbinger (här´bin jэr) •n. 1 [Historical] an advance representative of an army or royal party, who arranged for lodging, entertainment, etc. 2 a person or thing that comes before to announce or give an indication of what follows; herald •vt. to serve as harbinger of [ME herbergeour (with intrusive -n-) < OFr herbergeor, provider of lodging < herberge, a shelter < Frank (or OHG) heriberga, shelter for soldiers < heri, army (see HARRY) + berga, a shelter < bergan, to protect: see BURY]
harbor (här´bэr) •n. 1 a place of refuge, safety, etc.; retreat; shelter 2 a protected inlet, or branch of a sea, lake, etc., where ships can anchor, esp. one with port facilities •vt. 1 to serve as, or provide, a place of protection to; shelter or house; conceal or hide 2 to be the dwelling place or habitat of 3 to hold in the mind; cling to {to harbor a grudge} •vi. 1 to take shelter, as in a harbor 2 to live or exist har´bor·er •n. har´bor·less •adj. [ME herberwe < OE herebeorg (& ON herbergi), lit., army shelter (< here, army + beorg, a shelter), akin to OHG heriberga: see HARBINGER]
harbor master the official in charge of enforcing the regulations governing the use of a harbor
harbor seal an earless seal (Phoca vitulina) common in N Atlantic coastal waters
harborage (-ij) •n. 1 a shelter for ships; port; anchorage 2 shelter or lodgings
harbour (här´bэr) •n., vt., vi. Brit. sp. of HARBOR
hard (härd) •adj. 1 not easily dented, pierced, cut, or crushed; resistant to pressure; firm and unyielding to the touch; rigid; solid and compact 2 having firm muscles; in good bodily trim; vigorous and robust 3 showing, or done with, great force or strength; powerful; violent; vigorous {a hard blow} 4 demanding great physical or mental effort or labor; fatiguing; difficult; specif., a) difficult to do {hard work} b) difficult to understand, explain, or answer {a hard question} c) difficult to deal with; not easily managed or controlled {a man hard to live with} d) firmly fastened or tied {a hard knot} 5 a) not easily moved; unfeeling; callous {a hard heart} b) unfriendly; hostile {hard feelings} 6 practical and shrewd or calculating {a hard customer} 7 a) firm or definite, esp. in an aggressive way {a hard line in foreign policy} b) undeniable, reliable, or actual {hard facts} 8 causing pain or discomfort; specif., a) difficult to endure; trying; exhausting {a hard life} b) harsh; severe; stern {a hard master, hard words} 9 very cold, stormy, etc.; inclement {a hard winter} 10 a) harsh, stiff, and wiry (said of fibers or cotton) b) having no nap (said of a finish for fabric) 11 a) clearly defined or having sharp contrast; distinct {hard outlines} b) too clear, bright, or penetrating to be pleasant {a hard light} 12 having in solution mineral salts that interfere with the lathering and cleansing properties of soap, corrode metals, etc.: said of water 13 energetic and persistent; steady and earnest {a hard worker} 14 a) fermented; alcoholic {hard cider} b) containing a relatively high percentage of alcohol; strong {hard liquor} 15 a) of metal, not paper b) of currency or coin, not credit: said of money 16 a) that can be exchanged for gold or silver b) that is readily accepted as foreign exchange: said of certain currencies 17 Phonet. a) designating c sounded as in can or g sounded as in gun {a hard g} b) voiceless, as the sound of s in sin c) not palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages: not used in these ways as a technical term by phoneticians 18 Agric. high in gluten content {hard wheat} 19 Chem. not easily biodegradable: said of detergents and pesticides 20 Commerce high and stable: said of a market, prices, etc. 21 Mil. heavily fortified, as an underground installation {a hard base} 22 Radiology of high penetrating power: said of X-rays •adv. 1 energetically and persistently; steadily and earnestly {work hard} 2 with strength, violence, or severity {hit hard} 3 with difficulty: often used in hyphenated compounds {hard-earned, hard-sought} 4 so as to withstand much wear, use, etc. {hard-wearing clothes} 5 deeply; fully; soundly {sleep hard} 6 firmly; tightly {hold on hard} 7 close; near {we live hard by the woods} 8 so as to be or make firm, solid, or rigid {to freeze hard} 9 with vigor and to the fullest extent: used esp. in indicating direction {Hard alee! turn hard right} be hard on 1 to treat severely; be harsh toward 2 to be difficult, unpleasant, or painful for hard and fast invariable; strict: said of rules, etc. hard of hearing partially deaf hard put (to it) having considerable difficulty or trouble hard up [Colloq.] in great need of something, esp. money SYN.—hard, in this comparison, is the simple and general word for whatever demands great physical or mental effort [hard work, a hard problem]; difficult applies especially to that which requires great skill, intelligence, tact, etc. rather than physical labor [a difficult situation]; arduous implies the need for diligent, protracted effort [the arduous fight ahead of us]; laborious suggests long, wearisome toil [the laborious task of picking fruit] see also FIRM¹ —ANT. easy, simple [ME < OE heard, akin to Ger hart < IE base *kar-, hard > Gr karyon, nut, kratos, strength]
hard bop a style of jazz, esp. in its development from about 1954 to 1967, that further refined bop while introducing more melodies and harmonies based on blues and gospel influences
hard case 1 a rough or tough person 2 one who is firmly established in bad habits 3 a person in an unfortunate condition
hard coal ANTHRACITE
hard copy a computer printout, often supplied along with or instead of a video screen display
hard core the firm, unyielding, or unchanging central part or group
hard drug [Colloq.] a potent, illegal drug such as heroin, cocaine, etc. that usually leads to physical or psychological dependency
hard hat Æ 1 a protective helmet worn by construction workers, miners, etc. Æ 2 [Slang] such a worker hard-hat (härd´hæt') •adj.
hard labor compulsory physical labor imposed, together with imprisonment, as a punishment for some crimes
hard landing a landing, as of a rocket on the moon, made at relatively high speed, with an impact that may destroy all or much of the equipment hard´-land' •vi., vt.
hard maple SUGAR MAPLE
hard palate the bony part of the roof of the mouth, behind the upper teethridge
hard pressed confronted with a difficulty or harassment
hard rock loud, fast, blues-based rock music with driving, regular rhythms
hard rubber a firm, inelastic substance made by treating crude rubber with a large amount of sulfur and subjecting it to intense heat; ebonite: used for combs, electrical insulation, etc.
hard sauce a sweet, creamy mixture of butter, powdered sugar, and flavoring, served with plum pudding, etc.
hard sell high-pressure salesmanship hard´-sell´ •adj.
hard wheat wheat with high protein content and hard kernels: see DURUM
hard-ass (härd´æs') •adj. [Vulgar Slang] tough, inflexible, etc. •n. [Vulgar Slang] one who is hard-ass
hardback (härd´bæk') •n. a hardcover book
hardball (härd´böl') •n. 1 BASEBALL 2 any ruthless, aggressive, highly competitive form of politics, business, etc.: esp. in the phrase play hardball, to engage in some activity in a ruthless, highly competitive way
hard-bitten (härd´bit´ªn) •adj. 1 orig., that bites hard; tough in fighting: said of dogs 2 stubborn; tough; dogged
hardboard (härd´börd') •n. a boardlike building material made by subjecting fibers from wood chips to pressure and heat
hard-boiled (härd´boild´) •adj. 1 cooked in boiling water until both the white and yolk solidify: said of eggs Æ 2 [Colloq.] not affected by sentiment, pity, etc.; tough; callous
hard-bound (-baund') •adj. HARDCOVER
hard-core (härd´kör´) •adj. 1 constituting or of a hard core 2 absolute; unqualified {hard-core pornography, a hard-core radical}
hardcover (härd´kûv'эr) •adj. designating any book bound in a relatively stiff cover, as of cloth-covered cardboard •n. a hardcover book: distinguished from PAPERBACK
hard-edge (härd´ej') •adj. 1 designating or of any painting or work of art in which there are hard, or clearly defined, edges to the shapes, as of color, on the surface 2 intense or sharp; clearly defined: also hard-edged
harden (härd´ªn) •vt. 1 to make solid, rigid, or firm 2 to make callous {to harden one's heart} 3 to accustom to varying or adverse conditions or climate •vi. to become solid, rigid, callous, etc. [ME hardnen < ON harthna & < ME hard, HARD]
hardened (härd´ªnd) •adj. 1 made or become hard or harder (in various senses) 2 confirmed or inveterate, esp. in wrong or immoral behavior; habitual SYN. CHRONIC
hardener (här´dªn эr) •n. a person or thing that hardens; specif., a) a person who tempers metal tools b) a substance added to paint, varnish, etc. to give it a harder film
hardening (härd´ªn iŋ) •n. 1 a making or becoming hard 2 a substance used to harden something
hard-featured (-fi:´chэrd) •adj. having coarse, cruel, stern, or harsh features
hardfisted (härd´fist´id) •adj. stingy; miserly
hardgoods (härd´gudz') •n.pl. durable goods, such as automobiles, furniture, etc. Also hard goods
hardhack (härd´hæk') •n. STEEPLEBUSH [HARD + HACK¹]
hardhanded (härd´hæn'did) •adj. 1 having hands made hard by work 2 severe; tyrannical; ruthless: said of a ruler or rule hard´hand'ed·ness •n.
hardhead (härd´hed') •n. 1 a shrewd person, not easily moved 2 any of various fishes; esp., a slender river minnow (Mylopharodon conocephalus) of central and N California
hardhead sponge any of several coarse-fibered, commercial sponges from the Caribbean area
hardheaded (-hed'id) •adj. 1 shrewd and unsentimental; practical; matter-of-fact 2 stubborn; obstinate; dogged hard´head'ed·ly •adv. hard´head'ed·ness •n.
hardhearted (härd´härt'id) •adj. unfeeling; pitiless; cruel hard´heart'ed·ly •adv. hard´heart'ed·ness •n.
hard-hitting (hit'iŋ) •adj. [Colloq.] forceful, aggressive, etc.
hardihood (här´di: hud') •n. boldness, daring, fortitude, vigor, etc. [< HARDY¹ + -HOOD]
hardily (härd´ªl i:) •adv. in a hardy manner
hardiness (här´di: nis) •n. the quality of being hardy; specif., a) physical endurance; strength b) hardihood; boldness
Harding (här´diŋ), Warren Gamaliel 1865-1923; 29th president of the U.S. (1921-23)
hard-line (härd´lain') •adj. characterized by an aggressive, unyielding position in politics, foreign policy, etc.
hard-liner (-эr) •n. a person who takes a hard-line position
hardly (härd´li:) •adv. 1 [Now Rare] a) with effort or difficulty b) severely; harshly 2 only just; barely; scarcely: often used ironically or politely to mean not quite, or not at all {hardly the person to ask} 3 probably not; not likely [ME hardliche < OE heardlice]
hardness (härd´nis) •n. 1 the state or quality of being hard (in various senses) 2 the relative capacity of a substance for scratching another or for being scratched or indented by another
hard-nosed (härd´nouzd') •adj. [Colloq.] 1 indomitable; tough; stubborn 2 shrewd and practical hard´nose' •n.
hard-on (-än') •n. [Vulgar Slang] an erection of the penis
hardpan (härd´pæn') •n. 1 a layer of hard soil cemented by almost insoluble materials that restrict the downward movement of water and roots 2 solid, unplowed ground Æ 3 the hard, underlying part of anything; solid foundation
hards (härdz) •n.pl. TOW² [ME hardes < OE heordan, pl., flax hards, akin to MLowG herde < IE base *kes- to scrape, comb > Gr keskeon, tow]
hardscrabble (härd´skræb'эl) •adj. producing or earning only a very small amount; barren {a hardscrabble farm, life, etc.}
hard-set (härd´set´) •adj. 1 in trouble or difficulty 2 rigid; fixed; firm 3 stubborn
hard-shell (härd´shel') •adj. 1 a) having a hard shell b) having a shell not recently molted (said of crabs, crayfish, etc.): also hard´-shelled' Æ 2 [Colloq.] strict; strait-laced; uncompromising, esp. in religious matters
hard-shelled (or hard-shell) clam QUAHOG
hard-shelled (or hard-shell) crab a crab, esp. an edible sea crab, before it has shed its hard shell
hardship (härd´ship') •n. 1 hard circumstances of life 2 a thing hard to bear; specific cause of discomfort or suffering, as poverty, pain, etc. SYN. DIFFICULTY [ME heardschipe: see HARD & -SHIP]
hard-spun (härd´spûn') •adj. spun with a firm, close twist: said of yarn
hardstand (härd´stænd') •n. a paved area for parking aircraft or other vehicles
hardtack (härd´tæk') •n. unleavened bread made in very hard, large wafers: it was formerly a part of army and navy rations [HARD + TACK, n. 5]
hardtop (härd´täp') •n. an automobile resembling a sedan but having no post between the front and rear windows
hardware (härd´wer') •n. 1 articles made of metals, as tools, nails, fittings, utensils, etc.; often, specif., hinges, handles, locks, etc. used on doors, windows, etc. Æ 2 heavy military equipment, such as weapons, vehicles, missiles, etc. Æ 3 a) apparatus used for controlling spacecraft, etc. b) the mechanical, magnetic, and electronic design, structure, and devices of a computer c) electronic or mechanical equipment that uses cassettes, disks, etc.: cf. SOFTWARE
hard-wired (härd´waird') •adj. 1 directly connected to a computer {a hard-wired terminal} 2 designating or of a computer device with permanently wired circuitry for performing certain fixed tasks Also hard´wired'
hardwood (härd´wud') •n. 1 any tough, heavy timber with a compact texture 2 Forestry the wood of an angiosperm possessing true vessels, in contrast to the softwood of a gymnosperm, which lacks vessels 3 a tree yielding hardwood
hard-working (härd´wør'kiŋ) •adj. diligent; industrious
Hardy (här´di:) 1 Oliver 1892-1957; U.S. motion-picture comedian 2 Thomas 1840-1928; Eng. novelist & poet
hardy¹ (här´di:) -di·er, -di·est •adj. 1 bold and resolute; daring; courageous 2 too bold; full of temerity; rash 3 able to withstand fatigue, privation, etc.; robust; vigorous 4 able to survive the winter without special care: said of plants Etymology [ME & OFr hardi, pp. of hardir, to make bold < Frank *hardjan, to make hard < *hard-, HARD]
hardy² (här´di:) •n. a chisel with a square shank, used by blacksmiths: it fits into a square hole (hardy hole) in the anvil [prob. HARD + -Y³]
hare (her, hær) pl. hares •n.or hare any of a large group of swift mammals (order Lagomorpha) of the same family (Leporidae) as the rabbits, with long ears, soft fur, a cleft upper lip, a short tail, and long, powerful hind legs: it differs from a rabbit in that it is larger, does not burrow, and has furry, active young •vi. hared, har´ing [Brit. Colloq.] to run fast or go hurriedly: with off, away, about, etc. [ME < OE hara, akin to Ger hase < IE *as-, gray (hence, lit., the gray animal, euphemism for a taboo name) > L canus, hoary]
hare and hounds a game in which some players, called hounds, chase others, called hares, who have left a trail of paper scraps along their route
Hare Krishna (hä´ri:) 1 a cult involving certain Vedic beliefs and stressing devotion to Krishna, founded in the U.S. in 1966 2 a member of this cult [< Hindi Hari, one of the names of Vishnu + KRISHNA]
harebell (her´bel') •n. a slender, delicate perennial bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia) with clusters of blue, bell-shaped flowers [ME harebelle: see HARE & BELL¹]
harebrained (her´breind') •adj. having or showing little sense; reckless, flighty, giddy, rash, etc.
harelip (her´lip') •n. 1 a congenital lip deformity associated with cleft palate in which, usually, the upper lip fails to form completely, leaving a vertical cleft above the mouth 2 such a lip hare´lipped' •adj.
harem (her´эm, hær´-) •n. 1 that part of a Muslim household in which the women live; seraglio 2 the wives, concubines, women servants, etc. occupying a harem 3 a number of female animals, as of fur seals, who mate and lodge with one male Also ha·reem (hä ri:m´) [Ar harīm, lit., prohibited (place, thing) < harama, to forbid]
harem pants a kind of baggy trousers worn by women, made of lightweight fabric and closefitting at the ankles
Hargreaves (här´gri:vz, -greivz), James died 1778; Eng. inventor of the spinning jenny
Hariana (hэr yä´nэ) state of NW India: 17,274 sq. mi. (44,200 sq. km); pop. 12,850,000; cap. Chandigarh
haricot (hær´i kou') •n. 1 a highly seasoned stew of lamb or mutton and vegetables 2 [Chiefly Brit.] [altered (infl. by the stew) < ? Nahuatl ayecotli, bean] a) KIDNEY BEAN b) the pod or seed of any of various other edible beans [Fr < harigoter, to cut to pieces < ? MDu *harigod, sharp tool < haren, to sharpen + god, a tool]
hari-kari (här'i: kär´i:, her'i: ker´i:) •n. HARA-KIRI
Haringey (hä´riŋ gei) borough of Greater London, England; pop. 200,000
hark (härk) •vi. to listen carefully: usually in the imperative, with the effect of an exclamation •vt. [Archaic] to listen to; hear hark back 1 to return to an earlier point so as to pick up the scent or trail again 2 to go back in thought or speech; revert [ME herkien (akin to Ger horchen) < ? OE *heorcian or < OE heorcnian: see HEARKEN]
harken (här´kэn) •vi., vt. HEARKEN
harl (härl) •n. 1 a filament, esp. of hemp or flax 2 HERL [ME herle, prob. < MLowG harle]
Harlan (här´lэn) 1 a masculine name [< the surname Harlan] 2 John Marshall 1899-1971; U.S. jurist; associate justice, Supreme Court (1955-71)
Harlem (här´lэm) section of New York City, in N Manhattan
Harlem River tidal river separating Manhattan Island from the Bronx &, with Spuyten Duyvil Creek, connecting the East River with the Hudson: c. 8 mi. (12 km)
Harlequin (här´li kwin, -kin) a traditional comic character in pantomime, who wears a mask and gay, spangled, diamond-patterned tights of many colors, and sometimes carries a wooden wand or sword •n. [h-] a clown; buffoon •adj. [h-] 1 comic; ludicrous 2 of many colors; colorful [Fr harlequin, arlequin < OFr hierlekin, hellequin, demon: Fr sense & form infl. by It arlecchino < same OFr source]
harlequin bug a black-and-red, hemipterous stink bug (Murgantia histrionica) that feeds on cabbages and related plants
harlequin snake the E American coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
harlequinade (här'li kwi neid´) •n. 1 that part of a play or pantomime in which the Harlequin and the clown play leading parts 2 comic pranks; gay, mischievous antics; buffoonery [Fr arlequinade]
harlot (här´lэt) •n. PROSTITUTE [ME (< OFr, rogue, vagabond), orig. a euphemism for whore]
harlotry (här´lэ tri:) •n. 1 prostitution 2 prostitutes, collectively
harm (härm) •n. 1 hurt; injury; damage 2 moral wrong; evil •vt. to do harm to; hurt, damage, etc. [ME harmen < OE hearmian < the n.] SYN. INJURE harm´er •n. [ME < OE hearm, akin to Ger harm < IE base *ormo-, pain, torment > MPers šarm, shame]
harmattan (här'mэ tæn´) •n. a dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara in N Africa toward the Atlantic, esp. from Nov. to March [Sp harmatán < the native (Twi) name in W Africa]
harmful (härm´fэl) •adj. causing or able to cause harm; hurtful harm´ful·ly •adv. harm´ful·ness •n.
harmine (här´mi:n) •n. an alkaloid drug, C13H12N2O, present in ayahuasca and used in medicine as a stimulant
harmless (-lis) •adj. 1 [Rare] not harmed 2 causing or seeking to cause no harm; not harmful; inoffensive harm´less·ly •adv. harm´less·ness •n.
Harmonia (här mou´ni: э) Gr. Myth. 1 the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, and wife of Cadmus 2 personification of harmony and order [L < Gr: see HARMONY]
harmonic (här män´ik) •adj. 1 harmonious in feeling or effect; agreeing 2 Math. designating or of a harmonic progression 3 Music a) of or pertaining to harmony rather than to melody or rhythm b) of or pertaining to a harmonic •n. 1 an alternating-current voltage or current or a component of such voltage or current, whose frequency is some integral multiple of a fundamental frequency 2 any of the pure tones making up a composite tone, including the fundamental and its upper partials or overtones; partial tone har·mon´i·cal·ly •adv. [L harmonicus < Gr harmonikos < harmonia, HARMONY]
harmonic analysis 1 the study of Fourier series 2 the act of breaking a periodic function into components, each expressed as a sine or cosine function
harmonic mean a number associated with a set of numbers, that is equal to the number of numbers divided by the sum of the reciprocals of the numbers (h = n ÷ (1/a + 1/b)) (Ex.: for ½, ¹/3, and ¼, h = 3 ÷ (2 + 3 + 4) = ¹/3 or for ½ and ¹/3, h = 2 ÷ (2 + 3) = ²/5)
harmonic motion motion that repeats periodically, as the motion produced by a restoring force proportional to displacement
harmonic progression a series of quantities whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression (Ex: ½, ¹/3, and ¼: the resulting arithmetic progression 2, 3, and 4 is not a harmonic progression)
harmonic series the series of harmonic tones making up a composite tone Also harmonics
harmonica (här män´i kэ) •n. 1 a small wind instrument played with the mouth; mouth organ: it has a series of graduated metal reeds that vibrate and produce tones when air is blown or sucked across them 2 GLASS HARMONICA [L, fem. of harmonicus (see HARMONIC): altered < earlier armonica (< It, fem. of armonico, of same orig.) by Benjamin FRANKLIN, who developed it from an earlier instrument]
harmonious (här mou´ni: эs) •adj. 1 having parts combined in a proportionate, orderly, or pleasing arrangement; congruous 2 having similar or conforming feelings, ideas, interests, etc.; in accord 3 having musical tones combined to give a pleasing effect; consonant har·mo´ni·ous·ly •adv. har·mo´ni·ous·ness •n. [Fr harmonieux < OFr harmonie: see HARMONY]
harmonist (här´mэ nist) •n. 1 a musician expert in harmony 2 a scholar who arranges a HARMONY (sense 4) har'mo·nis´tic •adj. har'mo·nis´ti·cal·ly •adv.
harmonium (här mou´ni: эm) •n. a small kind of reed organ [Fr: so named by A. F. Debain (1809-77), Fr organ maker < harmonie, HARMONY]
harmonize (här´mэ naiz') -nized', -niz'ing •vi. 1 to be in harmony; accord; agree 2 to sing in harmony •vt. 1 to make harmonious; bring into agreement 2 to add chords to (a melody) so as to form a harmony 3 to arrange into a HARMONY (sense 4) SYN. AGREE har'mo·ni·za´tion •n. har´mo·niz'er •n. [Fr harmonizer: see HARMONY & -IZE]
harmony (här´mэ ni:) pl. -nies •n. 1 a combination of parts into a pleasing or orderly whole; congruity 2 agreement in feeling, action, ideas, interests, etc.; peaceable or friendly relations 3 a state of agreement or orderly arrangement according to color, size, shape, etc. 4 an arrangement of parallel passages of different authors, esp. of the Scriptures, so as to bring out corresponding ideas, qualities, etc. 5 agreeable sounds; music 6 Music a) the simultaneous sounding of two or more tones, esp. when satisfying to the ear b) structure in terms of the arrangement, modulation, etc. of chords (distinguished from MELODY, RHYTHM) c) the study of this structure SYN. SYMMETRY [ME armony < OFr harmonie < L harmonia < Gr < harmos, a fitting < IE base *ar- > ART, ARM¹]
Harmsworth (härmz´wørθ'), Alfred Charles William see NORTHCLIFFE, Viscount
harness (här´nis) •n. 1 orig., armor and other military equipment for a man or horse 2 the assemblage of leather straps and metal pieces by which a horse, mule, etc. is fastened to a vehicle, plow, or load 3 any trappings or gear similar to this; specif., a) the straps, etc. by which a parachute is fastened to a person or object b) a device for raising and lowering the warp threads on a loom 4 a set of electrical wires that can be quickly connected or disconnected as a unit at pluglike junctions •vt. 1 [Obs.] to put armor on 2 a) to put harness on (a horse, etc.) b) to attach (a horse, etc.) with a harness to something, as a wagon 3 to control so as to use the power of {to harness one's energy} in double harness 1 in a harness for two animals pulling the same carriage, plow, etc. 2 married 3 working at two jobs in harness in or at one's routine work in harness with in cooperation with [ME harneis < OFr, armor < ON *hernest, military supplies < herr, army, akin to HARRY + nest, provisions]
harness hitch a kind of knot
harness race a horse race between either trotters or pacers, with each horse pulling a sulky and driver
Harold (hær´эld) 1 a masculine name: dim. Hal 2 Harold I died 1040; king of England (1035-40): son of Canute: called Harold Harefoot 3 Harold II c. 1022-66; last Saxon king of England (1066): killed in the Battle of Hastings [OE Hereweald & Harald < ON Haraldr, both < Gmc *Hariwald, lit., army chief < *harja-, army (OE here, OHG heri) + *waldan, to rule: see WIELD]
harp (härp) •n. 1 a musical instrument with strings stretched vertically in an open, triangular frame and played by plucking with the fingers: the modern harp has usually forty-six strings and seven foot-pedals which permit the playing of halftones 2 a harp-shaped object or implement 3 [Slang] HARMONICA (sense 1) •vi. 1 to play a harp 2 to persist in talking or writing tediously or continuously (on or upon something) •vt. [Rare] to give voice to; express [H-] the constellation Lyra harp´er •n. [ME < OE hearpe, akin to Ger harfe < Gmc *harpa < IE base *(s)kerb(h)-, to bend, curve (> SHRIMP): from the shape of the instrument]
harp seal a migratory, earless arctic seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) having pups with a white, woolly coat
Harpers Ferry (här´pэrz) town in W.Va., at the juncture of the Potomac & Shenandoah rivers: site of the U.S. arsenal captured by John Brown (1859): pop. 300
harpist (här´pist) •n. a harp player
harpoon (här pu:n´) •n. a barbed spear with a line attached to it, used for spearing whales or other large sea animals •vt. to strike or catch with a harpoon har·poon´er •n. [MDu harpoen < MFr harpon < harper, to claw, grip < ON harpa, to squeeze, cramp: for IE base see HARP]
harpsichord (härp´si körd') •n. a stringed musical instrument with a keyboard, often with two manuals: the strings are plucked by points of leather or quill when the keys are pressed, producing short, abrupt tones: cf. CLAVICHORD harp´si·chord'ist •n. [obs. Fr harpechorde or It arpicordo < arpa (LL harpa < Gmc *harpa: see HARP) + corda (see CORD); -s- is intrusive]
Harpy (här´pi:) pl. -pies •n. 1 Gr. Myth. any of several hideous, filthy, rapacious winged monsters with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail, legs, and talons of a bird 2 [h-] a relentless, greedy, or grasping person 3 [h-] a shrewish woman 4 [h-] HARPY EAGLE [MFr harpie < L harpyia < Gr harpyiai, pl., lit., snatchers < harpazein, to snatch < IE *serp- < base *ser-, sickle, curved hook > L sarpere, to prune]
harpy eagle a large, black-and-white, short-winged tropical American eagle (Harpia harpyja) with a double crest and a powerful bill and claws
harquebus (här´kwэ bэs) •n. an early type of portable gun, supported on a hooked staff or forked rest during firing [Fr arquebuse < It archibuso < MFr harquebusche < Du hakebus: see HACKBUT]
harridan (hær´i dэn) •n. a nasty, bad-tempered old woman [prob. altered < Fr haridelle, worn-out horse, jade]
harrier¹ (hær´i: эr) •n. 1 any of a breed of hound similar to but smaller than the English foxhound, used in packs for hunting hares and rabbits 2 [pl.] a pack of such dogs and the hunters in a hunt 3 a cross-country runner [< HARE + -IER]
harrier² (hær´i: эr) •n. 1 a person who harries 2 any of a genus (Circus) of hawks that prey on small mammals, reptiles, etc., as the marsh hawk
Harriet (hær´i: it) a feminine name: dim. Hattie: see HARRY [fem. dim. of HARRY]
Harriman (hær´э mэn) 1 Edward Henry 1849-1909; U.S. financier & railroad magnate 2 W(illiam) Averell 1891-1986; U.S. diplomat, politician, & businessman: son of Edward Henry
Harris (hær´is) 1 Joel Chan·dler (chæn´dlэr) 1848-1908; U.S. writer: author of the Uncle Remus stories 2 Roy (Ellsworth) 1898-1979; U.S. composer
Harris tweed trademark for a soft, all-wool tweed, hand-woven on the islands of the Outer Hebrides [after Harris, a district (see LEWIS WITH HARRIS) in the Outer Hebrides where the cloth is made]
Harrisburg (hær´is børg') capital of Pa., in the S part, on the Susquehanna: pop. 52,000
Harrison (hær´э sªn) 1 Benjamin c. 1726-91; Am. Revolutionary patriot: signer of the Declaration of Independence: father of William Henry 2 Benjamin 1833-1901; 23d president of the U.S. (1889-93): grandson of William Henry 3 William Henry 1773-1841: U.S. general; 9th president of the U.S. (1841): called Tippecanoe
Harrovian (hæ rou´vi: эn) •adj. of Harrow •n. a student or former student of Harrow
Harrow (hær´ou) 1 borough of Greater London, England: pop. 201,000 2 private preparatory school for boys, in this borough
harrow¹ (hær´ou) •n. a frame with spikes or sharp-edged disks, drawn by a horse or tractor and used for breaking up and leveling plowed ground, covering seeds, rooting up weeds, etc. •vt. 1 to draw a harrow over (land) 2 to cause mental distress to; torment; vex •vi. to take harrowing {ground that harrows well} har´row·er •n. har´row·ing •adj. har´row·ing·ly •adv. [ME harwe < ? OE *hearwa: akin to ON harfr < IE *(s)kerp-: see HARVEST]
harrow² (hær´ou) •vt. [Archaic] to rob, plunder, or pillage harrow hell [Archaic] to enter hell and rescue the righteous: said of Christ [ME harwen, herien < OE hergian: see HARRY]
harrumph (hэ rûmpf´: conventionalized pronun.) •vi. 1 to clear one's throat, esp. in a studied, pompous way 2 to protest or complain in a pompous or self-righteous way •n. the act or sound of harrumphing [echoic]
harry (hær´i:) -ried, -ry·ing •vt. 1 to raid, esp. repeatedly, and ravage or rob; pillage; plunder 2 to torment or worry; harass 3 to force or push along [ME hergien < OE hergian < base of here, army < IE *koryos, army, var. of base *koros, war > Lith kãras, war, MIr cuire, host] Harry (hær´i:) a masculine name: fem. Harriet Etymology [ME Herry < HENRY]
harsh (härsh) •adj. 1 unpleasantly sharp or rough; specif., a) grating to the ear; discordant b) too bright or vivid to the eye; glaring c) too strong to the taste; bitter d) not smooth to the touch; coarse 2 unpleasantly crude, abrupt, or strained so as to be offensive to the mind or feelings {the harsh realities of death} 3 rough, crude, or forbidding in appearance {beneath his harsh exterior} 4 excessively severe; cruel or unfeeling {a harsh punishment} harsh´ly •adv. harsh´ness •n. [ME harsk, akin to Ger harsch, rough, raw < IE base *kars, to scratch, comb > L carduus, thistle, carrere, to card (wool)]
harslet (härs´lit) •n. HASLET
hart (härt) pl. harts •n. a male of the European red deer, esp. after its fifth year, when the crown antlers are formed; stag [ME hert < OE heorot, akin to Ger hirsch < IE base *er-, head, what is on the head, HORN > REIN(DEER) & L cervus, hart]
Harte (härt), Bret (bret) (born Francis Brett Hart) 1836-1902; U.S. writer, esp. of short stories
hartebeest (här´tэ bi:st', härt´bi:st') pl. -beests' •n.or -beest' any of a genus (Alcelaphus) of large, swift African antelopes with long horns curved backward at the tips Etymology [obs. Afrik < harte, hart + beest, beast]
Hartford (härt´fэrd) capital of Conn., in the central part, on the Connecticut River: pop. 140,000 (met. area 768,000)
hartshorn (härts´hörn') •n. 1 a hart's antler 2 [Now Rare] ammonium carbonate, used in smelling salts; sal volatile: so called because formerly obtained from deer's antlers
hart's-tongue or harts-tongue (-tûŋ') •n. a fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) with narrow, simple fronds, found in Europe, Asia, and NE North America
harumph (hэ rûmpf´: conventionalized pronun.) •vi., n. HARRUMPH
harum-scarum (her´эm sker´эm) •adj. acting or done in a reckless or rash way; irresponsible •adv. in a harum-scarum manner •n. a harum-scarum person or action [< ? HARE + SCARE + 'EM]
Harun ar-Rashid (hä ru:n´ är rä shi:d´) c. A.D. 764-809; caliph of Baghdad (786-809): given popular fame as a hero of the Arabian Nights
haruspex (hэ rûs´peks', hær´эs peks') pl. -rus´pi·ces' (-pэ si:z') •n. a soothsayer in ancient Rome who professed to foretell events by examining the entrails of sacrificial animals [L, lit., inspector of entrails < haru- (see YARN) + -spex (see AUSPEX)]
Harvard (här´vэrd), John 1607-38; Eng. clergyman, in America: 1st benefactor of Harvard College
harvest (här´vist) •n. 1 the time of the year when matured grain, fruit, vegetables, etc. are reaped and gathered in 2 a season's yield of grain, fruit, etc. when gathered in or ready to be gathered in; crop 3 the gathering in of a crop 4 the outcome or consequence of any effort or series of events {the tyrant's harvest of hate} •vt., vi. 1 to gather in (a crop, etc.) 2 to gather the crop from (a field) 3 to catch, shoot, trap, etc. (fish or game), often for commercial purposes 4 to get (something) as the result of an action or effort har´vest·a·ble •adj. [ME hervest < OE hærfest, akin to Ger herbst (OHG herbist) < IE *(s)kerp- < base *(s)ker-, to cut > SHEAR, SHORT, L caro, flesh, cernere & Gr krinein, to separate, karpos, fruit: basic sense time of cutting]
harvest fly CICADA
harvest home 1 the bringing home of the last harvest load 2 an English festival celebrating this 3 a song sung by harvesters bringing home the last load
harvest mite CHIGGER
harvest moon the full moon at or about the time of the autumnal equinox
harvest mouse 1 a very small European mouse (Micromys minutus) that builds its nest among the stalks of wild plants and growing grain 2 any of a genus (Reithrodontomys) of very small New World mice with a very long tail
harvester (-эr) •n. 1 a person who gathers in a crop of grain, fruit, etc. Æ 2 any of various farm machines for harvesting crops
harvestman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a man who harvests 2 any of an order (Opiliones) of spiderlike arachnids with long, thin legs and a short, broad, segmented abdomen; daddy longlegs
Harvey (här´vi:) 1 a masculine name 2 William 1578-1657; Eng. physician: discovered the circulation of the blood [Fr Hervé < OHG Herewig, lit., army battle < Gmc *harja, army (> OE here: see HARRY) + *wig-, fight, akin to OE wig < IE base *weik- > L vincere, conquer]
Haryana (hэr yä´nэ) alt. sp. of HARIANA
Harz (Mountains) (härts) mountain range in central Germany, extending from Lower Saxony to the Elbe River
has (hæz; unstressed, hэz, эz; before to'' hæz, hæs) •vt. 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of HAVE
Hasa (hä´sэ) region of NE Saudi Arabia: now constituting the Eastern Province: also Al Hasa
has-been (hæz´bin') •n. [Colloq.] a person or thing that was formerly popular or effective but is no longer so
Hasdrubal (hæz´dru: bэl) 1 died 221 B.C.; Carthaginian general: brother-in-law of Hannibal 2 died 207 B.C.; Carthaginian general: crossed the Alps (207) to aid Hannibal, his brother: son of Hamilcar Barca
hasenpfeffer (häs´эn fef'эr, häz´-; -pfef´-) •n. a German dish of rabbit meat marinated in vinegar and stewed in the marinade [Ger < hase, rabbit (see HARE) + pfeffer, pepper]
hash browns raw or boiled potatoes that have been hashed and fried in a frying pan Also hashed browns
hash house [Slang] a cheap restaurant
hash mark 1 [Mil. Slang] SERVICE STRIPE 2 Football any of the segments of the inbounds line marked on the field at the yard lines: they mark the point at which the ball is put back in play after it has been grounded outside an inbounds line
hash¹ (hæsh) •vt. 1 to chop (meat or vegetables) into small pieces for cooking 2 [Colloq.] to make a mess or botch of; bungle •n. 1 a chopped mixture of cooked meat and vegetables, usually baked or browned 2 a mixture, as of things used before in different forms; rehash 3 a hodgepodge; muddle; mess Æ hash out [Colloq.] to settle or resolve by prolonged discussion Æ hash over [Colloq.] to talk over in detail; discuss at length make (a) hash of [Colloq.] 1 to bungle; botch 2 to destroy or defeat (an opponent, argument, etc.) settle someone's hash [Colloq.] to overcome or subdue someone [Fr hacher, to chop, mince: see HACHURE]
hash² (hæsh) •n. [Slang] short for HASHISH
hashish (hæsh´i:sh', -ish; also hæ shi:sh´, hэ-) •n. a drug made from the resin contained in the flowering tops of hemp, chewed or smoked for its intoxicating and euphoric effects Also hash´eesh' (-i:sh') [Ar hashīsh, dried hemp]
Hasidim (hæs´э dim', -di:m', hæ sid´im, -si:d´-; Heb khä'si: di:m´) sing. Has·id (hæs´id; Heb khä si:d´) •n.pl. the members of a sect of Jewish mystics that originated in Poland in the 18th cent. and that emphasizes joyful worship of an immanent God Ha·sid·ic (hæ sid´ik) •adj. Has´i·dism •n.
haslet (hæs´lit, hæz´-; heis´-, heiz´-) •n. the heart, liver, lungs, etc. of a pig or other animal, used for food [ME hastelet < OFr < haste, meat cooked on a spit < MDu harst, a roast (form and sense infl. by L hasta, a spear) < IE base *ker-, to burn > HEARTH]
hasn't (hæz´эnt) has not
hasp (hæsp, häsp) •n. a hinged metal fastening for a door, window, lid, etc.; esp., a metal piece that fits over a staple and is held in place by a pin or padlock •vt. [Rare] to fasten with or as with a hasp [ME < OE hæsp, by metathesis < hæpse, akin to Ger haspe < IE base *kap-, to grasp > HAVE]
Hassam (hæs´эm), (Frederick) Childe (chaild) 1859-1935; U.S. painter & etcher
Hassel (häs´эl), Odd (öd) 1897-1981; Norw. chemist
Hasselt (häs´эlt) commune in NE Belgium: capital of Limburg province: pop. 65,000
hassle (hæs´эl) •n. [Colloq.] 1 a heated argument; squabble 2 a troublesome situation •vi. -sled, -sling [Colloq.] to have a hassle •vt. [Slang] to annoy, harass, etc. [< ?]
hassock (hæs´эk) •n. 1 [Now Rare] a thick clump or tuft of grass; tussock 2 a firmly stuffed cushion used as a footstool or seat [ME hassok < OE hassuc, (clump of) coarse grass < ?]
hast (hæst; unstressed, hэst, эst) •vt. archaic 2d pers. sing., pres. indic., of HAVE: used with thou
hasta la vista (äs´tä lä vi:s´tä) so long; (I'll) see you again [Sp, lit., until the meeting]
hasta luego (lwe´gô) so long; (I'll) see you soon [Sp, lit., until soon]
hasta mañana (mä nyä´nä) so long; (I'll) see you tomorrow Etymology [Sp, lit., until tomorrow]
hastate (hæs´teit') •adj. having a triangular shape like a spearhead, as some leaves [L hastatus < hasta, a spear < IE base *ghasto- a rod, shaft > YARD¹]
haste (heist) •n. 1 the act of hurrying; quickness of motion; rapidity 2 the act of hurrying carelessly or recklessly {haste makes waste} 3 necessity for hurrying; urgency {the air of haste which marks the undertaking} •vt., vi. hast´ed, hast´ing [Rare] HASTEN in haste 1 in a hurry 2 in too great a hurry; without enough care make haste to hasten; hurry SYN.—haste implies quick or precipitate movement or action, as from the pressure of circumstances or intense eagerness; hurry, often interchangeable with haste, specifically suggests excitement, bustle, or confusion [the hurry of city life]; speed implies rapidity of movement, operation, etc., suggesting effectiveness and the absence of excitement or confusion [to increase the speed of an assembly line]; expedition adds to speed the implication of efficiency and stresses the facilitation of an action or procedure; dispatch comes close to expedition in meaning but more strongly stresses promptness in finishing something —ANT. slowness, delay [ME < OFr < Frank *haist, violence, akin to OE hæst < IE base *eibh-, quick, violent > Sans sibham, quick]
hasten (heis´эn) •vt. to cause to be or come faster; speed up; accelerate •vi. to move or act swiftly; hurry; be quick [extended form of prec., v.]
Hastings (heis´tiŋz), Warren 1732-1818; Eng. statesman: 1st governor general of India (1773-84) Hastings (heis´tiŋz) city in Sussex, SE England, on the English Channel: near the site of the decisive battle (Battle of Hastings, 1066) in the Norman Conquest of England: pop. 74,000
hasty (heis´ti:) hast´i·er, hast´i·est •adj. 1 done or made with haste; quick; hurried {a hasty lunch} 2 done or made too quickly and with too little thought; rash; impetuous {a hasty decision} 3 short-tempered 4 showing irritation or impatience {hasty words} SYN. FAST¹ hast´i·ly •adv. hast´i·ness •n. [ME hasti < OFr hasti, hastif: see HASTE]
hasty pudding Æ 1 mush made of cornmeal 2 [Brit.] mush made of flour or oatmeal [so called because quickly prepared]
hat (hæt) •n. 1 a covering for the head, usually with a brim and a crown: sometimes distinguished from BONNET, BERET, CAP, etc. 2 any of the several titles, positions, jobs, roles, etc. that one person may have •vt. hat´ted, hat´ting to cover or provide with a hat: used chiefly in the pp. hat in hand in a humble or obsequious manner; abjectly Æ pass the hat to take up a collection, as at a meeting take one's hat off to to salute or congratulate Æ talk through one's hat [Colloq.] to make irresponsible or foolish statements; talk nonsense throw one's hat into the ring to enter a contest, esp. one for political office Æ under one's hat [Colloq.] strictly confidential; secret [ME < OE hætt, akin to OFris hat, Ger hut < IE base *kadh-, to cover, protect > HOOD¹, HEED, L cassis, helmet]
hat tree a stand with arms or hooks to hold hats, coats, etc.
hat trick Sports any of various unusual feats; esp., the act by a single player in ice hockey, soccer, etc. of scoring three goals in one game [orig. term in cricket: from the practice of rewarding the feat with a new hat]
hatband (hæt´bænd') •n. a band of cloth around the crown of a hat, just above the brim
hatbox (-bäks') •n. a box or case for carrying or storing a hat or hats
hatch¹ (hæch) •vt. 1 a) to bring forth (young) from an egg or eggs by applying warmth b) to bring forth young from (an egg or eggs) 2 to bring (a plan, idea, etc.) into existence; esp., to plan in a secret or underhanded way; plot •vi. 1 to bring forth young; develop embryos: said of eggs 2 to come forth from the egg 3 to brood: said of a bird •n. 1 the process of hatching 2 the brood hatched 3 a result hatch´er •n. [ME hacchen, akin to Ger hecken, to breed & OE hagan, the genitals < ? IE base *ak-, to be able, help > Sans saknŏti, (he) can]
hatch² (hæch) •n. 1 the lower half of a door, gate, etc. that has two separately movable halves 2 HATCHWAY 3 a covering for a ship's hatchway, or a lid or trapdoor for a hatchway in a building 4 a barrier to regulate the flow of water in a stream; floodgate down the hatch! [Colloq.] drink up! A toast [ME hacche < OE hæcc, grating, lattice gate, akin to Du, LowG hek < IE base *kagh-, to enclose, wickerwork > HEDGE]
hatch³ (hæch) •vt. to mark or engrave with fine, crossed or parallel lines so as to indicate shading •n. any of these lines [OFr hacher, to chop: see HACHURE]
hatchback (hæch´bæk') •n. 1 an automobile body with a rear door or section that swings up, providing a wide opening into a storage area 2 a car having such a body [HATCH² + BACK¹]
hatcheck (hæt´chek') •adj. of, for, or working in a checkroom for hats, coats, etc.
hatchel (hæch´эl) -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling •n., vt. HACKLE¹
hatchery (hæch´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. a place for hatching eggs, esp. those of fish or poultry
hatchet (hæch´it) •n. 1 a small ax with a short handle, for use with one hand Æ 2 TOMAHAWK Æ bury the hatchet to stop fighting; make peace [ME hachet < OFr hachette, dim. of hache, an ax: see HACHURE]
hatchet face a lean, sharp face, suggesting the cutting edge of a hatchet hatch´et-faced' (-feist') •adj.
hatchet job [Colloq.] a biased, malicious attack on the character or activities of a person, institution, etc.
hatchet man [Colloq.] 1 a person hired to commit murder 2 any person assigned by another to carry out disagreeable or unscrupulous tasks 3 a malicious or harsh writer or critic, as one who attempts to destroy a reputation
hatching (hæch´iŋ) •n. 1 the drawing or engraving of fine, parallel or crossed lines to show shading 2 such lines [HATCH³ + -ING]
hatchling (-liŋ) •n. a recently hatched bird, fish, turtle, etc.
hatchment (hæch´mэnt) •n. Heraldry a diamond-shaped panel bearing the coat of arms of a person who has recently died, displayed before the house during mourning [for earlier atcheament, altered < ACHIEVEMENT]
hatchway (hæch´wei') •n. 1 a covered opening in a ship's deck, through which cargo can be lowered or entrance made to a lower deck 2 a similar opening in the floor or roof of a building
hate (heit) hat´ed, hat´ing •vt. 1 to have strong dislike or ill will for; loathe; despise 2 to dislike or wish to avoid; shrink from {to hate arguments} •vi. to feel hatred •n. 1 a strong feeling of dislike or ill will; hatred 2 a person or thing hated hat´er •n. SYN.—hate implies a feeling of great dislike or aversion, and, with persons as the object, connotes the bearing of malice; detest implies vehement dislike or antipathy; despise suggests a looking down with great contempt upon the person or thing one hates; abhor implies a feeling of great repugnance or disgust; loathe implies utter abhorrence —ANT. love, like [ME hatien < OE hatian, akin to Ger hassen < IE base *ād-, bad temper > Gr kēdein, to trouble, kedos, grief, Welsh cas, hate]
hateable (heit´э bэl) •adj. that deserves to be hated
hateful (heit´fэl) •adj. 1 [Archaic] feeling or showing hate; malicious; malevolent 2 causing or deserving hate; loathsome; detestable; odious 3 nasty, unpleasant, objectionable, etc. {what a hateful thing to say!} hate´ful·ly •adv. hate´ful·ness •n. SYN.—hateful is applied to that which provokes extreme dislike or aversion; odious stresses a disagreeable or offensive quality in that which is hateful; detestable refers to that which arouses vehement dislike or antipathy; obnoxious is applied to that which is very objectionable to one and causes great annoyance or discomfort by its presence; that is repugnant which is so distasteful or offensive that one offers strong resistance to it; that is abhorrent which is regarded with extreme repugnance or disgust; abominable is applied to that which is execrably or degradingly offensive or loathsome
hatemonger (heit´mûŋ'gэr, -mäŋ'-) •n. a propagandist who seeks to provoke hatred and prejudice, esp. against a minority group or groups
hath (hæθ) •vt. archaic 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of HAVE
hatha yoga (hæθ´э) YOGA (sense 1)
Hathaway (hæθ´э wei'), Anne c. 1557-1623; maiden name of the wife of William Shakespeare
Hathor (hæθ´ör') Egypt. Myth. the goddess of love, mirth, and joy, usually represented as having the head or ears of a cow Ha·thor·ic (hæ θör´ik) •adj. [Gr Hathōr < Egypt Het-Hert, lit., the house above]
hatpin (hæt´pin') •n. a long, ornamental pin for fastening a woman's hat to her hair
hatrack (hæt´ræk') •n. a rack, set of pegs or hooks, etc. to hold hats
hatred (hei´trid) •n. strong dislike or ill will; hate [ME < hate, hate + -red, -reden < OE -ræden, state, condition]
hatter (hæt´эr) •n. a person who makes, sells, or cleans hats, esp. men's hats
Hatteras (hæt´эr эs), Cape cape on an island (Hatteras Island) of N.C., between Pamlico Sound & the Atlantic: site of a national recreational area (Cape Hatteras National Seashore), 39 sq. mi. (113 sq. km)
Hattie (hæt´i:) a feminine name: see HARRIET
Hattiesburg (hæt´i:z børg') city in SE Miss.: pop. 42,000
haubergeon (hö´bэr jэn) •n. obs. var. of HABERGEON
hauberk (hö´bэrk) •n. a medieval coat of armor, usually of chain mail [ME hauberc < OFr < Frank *halsberg (akin to OE healsbeorg), protection for the neck, gorget < hals, the neck (see COLLAR) + bergan, to protect]
haughty (höt´i:) -ti·er, -ti·est •adj. 1 having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain, contempt, or scorn for others; proud; arrogant; supercilious 2 [Archaic] lofty; noble SYN. PROUD haugh´ti·ly •adv. haugh´ti·ness •n. [ME haut, high, haughty < OFr, high < altus (with h- after Frank *hoh, high) + -Y³: gh prob. inserted by analogy with NAUGHTY]
haul (höl) •vt. 1 to pull with force; move by pulling or drawing; tug; drag 2 to transport by wagon, truck, etc. {to haul coal for a living} 3 HALE² 4 Naut. to change the course of (a ship), specif. so as to sail closer to the wind •vi. 1 to pull; tug 2 to shift direction: said of the wind 3 Naut. to change the course of a ship, specif. so as to sail closer to the wind •n. 1 the act of hauling; pull; tug 2 a) the amount of fish taken in a single pull of a net b) [Colloq.] the amount gained, won, earned, etc. at one time 3 the distance or route over which something is transported or over which one travels 4 a load or quantity transported SYN. PULL haul off 1 to change a ship's course so as to draw away from something 2 to retreat; withdraw Æ 3 [Colloq.] to draw the arm back before hitting haul up 1 to sail closer to the wind 2 to come to rest; stop haul your (or her, etc.) wind to sail closer to the wind: also haul to the wind in (or over) the long haul over a long period of time haul´er •n. [17th-c. phonetic sp. of HALE² < ME halen < OFr haler, to draw < ODu halen, akin to Ger holen, to fetch < IE base *kel-, to cry out (> L calare): basic sense to call hither]
haulage (höl´ij) •n. 1 the act or process of hauling 2 the charge made for hauling, as by a railroad
haulm (höm) •n. 1 the stalks or stems of cultivated cereal plants, beans, peas, etc., esp. after the crop has been gathered 2 straw or hay used for thatching, bedding, etc. 3 a stem of grass or grain [ME halm < OE healm, halm, straw, akin to Ger halm < IE *olemos, reed, cane > Gr kalamos, L culmus]
haunch (hönch, hänch) •n. 1 the part of the body including the hip, buttock, and thickest part of the thigh 2 an animal's loin and leg together; joint of venison, mutton, etc. 3 Archit. either of the sides of an arch from the point of rising to the vertex [ME haunche < OFr hanche < Gmc, as in MDu hanke, haunch]
haunch bone the ilium, or hipbone
haunt (hönt, hänt; for n. 2, usually hænt) •vt. 1 to visit (a place) often or continually; frequent 2 to seek the company or companionship of; run after 3 to appear or recur repeatedly to, often to the point of obsession {memories haunted her} 4 to be associated with; fill the atmosphere of; pervade {memories of former gaiety haunt the house} Haunt is often used with a ghost, spirit, etc. as its stated or implied subject •n. 1 a) a place often visited {to make the library one's haunt} b) a lair or feeding place of animals 2 [Dial.] a ghost [ME haunten < OFr hanter, to frequent < Gmc *haimetan (akin to OE hamettan, to domicile) < *haim, HOME]
haunted (hönt´id) •adj. supposedly frequented by ghosts
haunting (hönt´iŋ) •adj. often recurring to the mind; not easily forgotten {a haunting tune} haunt´ing·ly •adv.
Hauptmann (haupt´män), Ger·hart (geř´häřt) 1862-1946; Ger. dramatist, novelist, & poet
Hausa (hau´sэ, -sä; -zэ, -zä) pl. -sas or -sa •n. 1 a member of a people living chiefly in N Nigeria, Niger, and adjacent areas 2 the Chadic language of this people, used as a trade language in many parts of W Africa
hausen (hö´zэn, hau´-) •n. BELUGA (sense 1) [Ger]
hausfrau (haus´frau') •n. a housewife [Ger: see HOUSE & FRAU]
haustellum (hös tel´эm) pl. -tel´la (-э) •n. a tubelike sucking organ, or proboscis, as in various insects haus·tel·late (hos´tэ leit', -lit') •adj. [ModL < L haustus, pp. of haurire, to drink, draw water]
haustorium (hös tör´i: эm) pl. -ri·a (-э) •n. a rootlike outgrowth in certain parasitic plants, through which food is absorbed from the host haus·to´ri·al (-эl) •adj. [ModL < L haustus: see HAUSTELLUM]
haut monde (ou mouñd´) high society [Fr]
hautboy (hou´boi', ou´-) •n. early name for OBOE [Fr hautbois < haut, high (see HAUGHTY) + bois, wood < Frank *busk, forest: see BUSH¹]
haute (out) •adj. of a high level of quality, fashion, etc.: often regarded as having snobbish overtones: also haut [Fr, fem. of haut, high, grand: see HAUGHTY]
haute couture (out ku: tüř´; E out'ku: tur´) the leading designers and creators of new fashions in clothing for women, or their creations; high fashion [Fr, lit., high sewing]
haute cuisine (out küi: zi:n´; E out'kwi:-) the preparation of fine food by highly skilled chefs, or such fine food [Fr, lit., high kitchen]
haute vulgarisation (out vül gå ři: zä syouñ´) vulgarization, or popularization, on a higher level, esp. as done by academics, scholars, etc. [Fr, lit., high popularization]
Haute-Normandie (out nôř mäñ di:´) metropolitan region of NW France: 4,700 sq. mi. (12,317 sq. km); pop. 1,671,000; chief city: Rouen
hauteur (hou tør´; Fr ou tëř´) •n. disdainful pride; haughtiness; snobbery [Fr < haut: see HAUGHTY]
Havana (hэ væn´э) capital of Cuba: seaport on the Gulf of Mexico: pop. 1,950,000: Sp. name HABANA •n. 1 a cigar made in Havana, or in Cuba, or of Cuban tobacco 2 Cuban tobacco
Havana brown any of a breed of domestic cat with a chestnut-brown coat, a long, tapering muzzle, and forward-tilting ears
havarti (hэ vär´ti:) •n. a pale-yellow, semisoft Danish cheese
have (hæv; unstressed, hэv, эv; before to'' hæv, hæf) had (hæd; unstressed, hэd, эd), hav´ing •vt. 1 to hold in the hand or in control; own; possess {to have wealth} 2 to possess or contain as a part, characteristic, attribute, etc. {to have blue eyes, the week has seven days} 3 to be affected by or afflicted with {to have a cold} 4 to possess by way of experience; experience; undergo {have a good time} 5 to possess an understanding of; know {to have only a little Spanish} 6 to hold or keep in the mind {to have an idea} 7 to declare or state {so gossip has it} 8 to gain possession, control, or mastery of 9 a) to get, take, receive, or obtain {to have news of someone, have a look at it} b) to consume; eat or drink {have some tea} 10 to bear or beget (offspring) 11 to perform; carry on; engage in {to have an argument} 12 a) to cause to {have them walk home} b) to cause to be {have this done first} 13 to be in a certain relation to {to have brothers and sisters} 14 to feel and show {have pity on her} 15 to permit; tolerate: used in the negative {I won't have this nonsense} 16 [Colloq.] a) to hold at a disadvantage or to overcome {I had my opponent now} b) to deceive; take in; cheat {they were had in that business deal} c) to engage in sexual intercourse with Have is used as an auxiliary with past participles to form phrases expressing completed action, as in the perfect tenses (Ex.: I have left, I had left, I shall have left, I would have left, etc.), and with infinitives to express obligation or necessity (Ex.: we have to go) Have got often replaces have: see GET Have is conjugated in the present indicative: (I) have, (he, she, it) has, (we, you, they) have; in the past indicative (I, he, she, it, we, you, they) had Archaic forms are: (thou) hast, hadst, (he, she, it) hath; the present subjunctive is have, the past subjunctive had •n. a person or nation with relatively much wealth or rich resources {the haves and have-nots} have at to attack; strike have done to stop; get through; finish have had it [Slang] 1 to be exhausted, defeated, disgusted, bored, ready to quit, etc. 2 to be no longer popular, useful, accepted, etc. have it good [Colloq.] to be in comfortable circumstances have it off [Brit. Slang] to have sexual intercourse have it out to settle an issue, disagreement, etc. by fighting or discussion have on to be wearing; be dressed in Æ have to be [Colloq.] to be unquestionably or without doubt {this has to be the best movie of the year} to have and to hold to possess for life: phrase used in certain marriage services [ME haven (earlier habben) < OE habban, akin to OHG haben, ON hafa, Goth haban < IE base *kap-, to grasp > Gr kaptein, to gulp down, L capere, to take: primary sense, to hold, have in hand]
Havel (hä´fэl) river in NE Germany, flowing southwest into the Elbe: c. 215 mi. (345 km)
havelock (hæv´läk') •n. a light cloth covering for a military cap, falling over the back of the neck for protection against the sun [after Sir Henry Havelock (1795-1857), Eng general in India]
haven (hei´vэn) •n. 1 a port; harbor 2 any sheltered, safe place; refuge •vt. to provide a haven for [ME < OE hæfen, akin to Ger hafen, LowG haff < IE *kapnos, haven < base *kap-: see HAVE]
have-not (hæv´nät') •n. a person or nation with little wealth or poor resources
haven't (hæv´эnt) have not
haver (hei´vэr) •vi. [Brit.] 1 to talk foolishly or waste time talking foolishly 2 to waver; vacillate [< ?]
Havering (heiv´riŋ) borough of Greater London: pop. 240,000
havers (hei´vэrz) •interj. [Brit.] rubbish! nonsense!
haversack (hæv´эr sæk') •n. a canvas bag for carrying rations, etc., generally worn over one shoulder, as by soldiers or hikers [Fr havresac < Ger habersack, lit., sack of oats < haber (now hafer < LowG), akin to E dial. haver, oats (? orig. goat food < IE base *kapro- > L caper, goat) + Ger sack, SACK¹]
Haversian (hэ vør´zhэn, -shэn) •adj. designating or of the canals through which blood vessels and connective tissue pass in bone [after C. Havers (c. 1650-1702), Eng physician]
havoc (hæv´эk; also hæv´äk') •n. great destruction and devastation, as that resulting from hurricanes, wars, etc. •vt. -ocked, -ock·ing [Obs.] to lay waste; devastate SYN. RUIN cry havoc 1 orig., to give (an army) the signal for pillaging 2 to warn of great, impending danger play havoc with to devastate; destroy; ruin [earlier esp. in phrase CRY HAVOC (see below) < ME & Anglo-Fr havok < OFr havot, prob. < haver, to hook, take, hef, a hook < Frank *haf-, to seize: for IE base see HAVE]
Havre , Le see LE HAVRE
Haw Hawaiian
haw¹ (hö) •n. 1 the berry of the hawthorn 2 HAWTHORN [ME hawe < OE haga, haw, hedge, akin to hecg, HEDGE]
haw² (hö) •interj., n. a word of command to a horse, ox, etc., esp. one driven without reins, meaning turn to the left! •vt., vi. to turn to the left Opposed to GEE¹ [< ?]
haw³ (hö) •vi. to hesitate in speaking; grope for words; falter Usually in hem and haw (see HEM², sense 2) •interj., n. 1 a conventionalized expression of the sound often made by a speaker when hesitating briefly 2 HA Etymology [echoic]
haw4 (hö) •n. 1 NICTITATING MEMBRANE 2 [often pl.] inflammation of this membrane [< ?]
Hawaii (hэ wä´i:, -yi:, -yэ) 1 a State of the U.S., consisting of a group of islands (Hawaiian Islands) in the North Pacific: admitted, 1959; 6,450 sq. mi. (16,706 sq. km); pop. 1,108,000; cap. Honolulu: abbrev. HI 2 largest & southernmost of the islands of Hawaii, southeast of Oahu: 4,021 sq. mi. (10,420 sq. km); pop. 120,000 [Haw Hawai'i > Proto-Polynesian *hawaiki; akin to Savai'i, SAVAII]
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park national park on the island of Hawaii, including Mauna Loa: 280 sq. mi. (725 sq. km)
Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (-э lu:´shэn) a standard time used in the zone which includes Hawaii and the western Aleutian Islands, corresponding to the mean solar time of the 150th meridian west of Greenwich, England: it is ten hours behind Greenwich time: see TIME ZONE, map
Hawaiian (-эn, -yэn) •adj. of Hawaii, its people, language, etc. •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Hawaii 2 a) a person of Polynesian descent b) the Polynesian language of the Hawaiians
Hawaiian shirt a short-sleeved, brightly patterned sport shirt, usually worn outside the trousers
hawfinch (hö´finch') •n. the common European grosbeak (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) of a family (Fringillidae) of finches [HAW¹ + FINCH]
hawk moth (hök´ möθ') any of a family (Sphingidae) of moths with a thick, tapering body, slender wings, and a long feeding tube used for sucking the nectar of flowers; sphinx moth
hawk¹ (hök) •n. 1 a) any of various accipitrine birds having short, rounded wings and a long tail and legs, as Cooper's hawk, goshawk, and the harriers b) loosely, any of various other birds of prey, as falcons and ospreys 2 an advocate of all-out war or of measures in international affairs designed to provoke or escalate open hostilities: cf. DOVE 3 a person regarded as having the preying or grasping nature of a hawk; cheater; swindler •vi. 1 to hunt birds or other small game with the help of falcons or other hawks 2 to attack by or as by swooping and striking •vt. to attack or prey on as a hawk does hawk´ish •adj. hawk´like' •adj. [ME hauk < OE hafoc, akin to Ger habicht, Pol kobuz, falcon]
hawk² (hök) •vt. to advertise or peddle (goods) in the streets by shouting [< HAWKER¹]
hawk³ (hök) •vi. to clear the throat audibly •vt. to bring up (phlegm) by coughing •n. an audible clearing of the throat [echoic]
hawk4 (hök) •n. a flat, square piece of wood or metal with a handle underneath, for carrying mortar or plaster [prob. fig. use of HAWK¹]
hawker¹ (hök´эr) •n. a peddler or huckster [altered by folk etym. (after HAWK²) < MLowG hoker, huckster (Du heuker, Ger höker) < hoken, to peddle, orig., to crouch (as with a burden) < IE base *keu-, to bend, stoop, arch > HOBBLE, HIGH]
hawker² (hök´эr) •n. a person who uses hawks for hunting; falconer [OE hafocere]
Hawkeye (hök´ai') •n. [Colloq.] a native or inhabitant of Iowa (called the Hawkeye State)
hawk-eyed (hök´aid') •adj. keen-sighted like a hawk