hemimorphite (-mör´fait') •n. a native zinc silicate, Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O, that is an important ore of zinc [Ger hemimorphit < hemimorph, hemimorphic (< hemi-, HEMI- + -morph, -MORPH) + -it, -ITE¹]
hemin (hi:´min) •n. a brown, crystalline chloride of heme, C34H32N4O4FeCl, obtained when blood is treated with glacial acetic acid and sodium chloride: its production by this reaction is evidence of the presence of blood in fluids, stains, etc. [HEM(E) + -IN¹]
Hemingway (hem´iŋ wei'), Ernest 1899-1961; U.S. novelist & short-story writer
hemiola (hem'i: ou´lэ) •n. especially in early music, time values in the relationship of three to two, as in a unit or measure divided into three beats followed by an equivalent unit divided into two beats Also hem'i·o´li·a (-li: э) [< ML hemiolia < Gr hēmiolia, fem. of hēmiolios, in the ratio of one and one half to one < hēmi- (see HEMI-) + holos, whole]
hemiparasite (hem'i pær´э sait') •n. 1 Zool. an organism that may be either free-living or parasitic; facultative parasite 2 Bot. a parasitic plant, as the mistletoe, which carries on some photosynthesis but obtains a portion of its food, water, or minerals from a host plant hem'i·par'a·sit´ic (-sit´ik) •adj.
hemiplegia (-pli:´ji: э, -jэ) •n. paralysis of one side of the body hem'i·ple´gic (-jik) •adj., n. [ModL < MGr hēmiplēgia, paralysis: see HEMI- & -PLEGIA]
hemipteran (hi: mip´tэr эn, hэ-) •n. a true bug: see BUG¹ (sense 1) he·mip´ter·oid •adj. he·mip´ter·ous •adj. [< ModL Hemiptera (see HEMI- & PTERO-) + -AN]
hemisphere (hem´i sfir') •n. 1 half of a sphere, globe, or celestial body; specif., a) any of the halves into which the celestial sphere is divided by either the celestial equator or the ecliptic b) any of the halves of the earth: the earth is divided by the equator into the N and S hemispheres and by a meridian into the E Hemisphere (containing Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia) and the W Hemisphere (containing the Americas and Oceania) c) a model or map of any of these halves 2 the countries and peoples of any of the earth's hemispheres 3 an area of action, knowledge, etc. 4 either lateral half of the cerebrum or cerebellum hem'i·spher´i·cal (-sfer´i kэl) or hem'i·spher´ic •adj. [ME hemisperie < L hemisphaerium < Gr hēmisphairion: see HEMI- & SPHERE]
hemispheroid (-sfir´oid') •n. a half of a spheroid
hemistich (hem´i stik') •n. half a line of verse, esp. either half created by the chief caesura, or rhythmic pause in the middle of a line [L hemistichium < Gr hēmistichion < hēmi, half + stichos, a row, line, verse: see STICH]
hemiterpene (hem'i tør´pi:n') •n. any of a group of isomeric hydrocarbons with the general formula C5H8, as isoprene [HEMI- + TERPENE]
hemitrope (hem´i troup') •adj. designating a crystal formed of two other crystals joined so that corresponding faces are directly opposed: also hem'i·trop´ic (-träp´ik) •n. such a crystal [Fr hémitrope: see HEMI- & -TROPE]
hemline (hem´lain') •n. 1 the bottom edge, usually hemmed, of a dress, skirt, coat, etc. 2 the height of this edge above the ground
hemlock (hem´läk') •n. 1 a) a poisonous European plant (Conium maculatum) of the umbel family, with compound umbels of small, white flowers and finely divided leaves; poison hemlock b) a poison made from this plant 2 WATER HEMLOCK 3 a) any of a genus (Tsuga) of North American and Asiatic evergreen trees of the pine family, with drooping branches and short needles: the bark is used in tanning b) the wood of such a tree Etymology [ME hemlok < OE hemlic, hymlic, akin ? to hymele, hop]
hemmer (hem´эr) •n. 1 a person that hems Æ 2 a sewing machine attachment for making hems
hemo- (hi:´mou, -mэ; hem´ou, -э) combining form blood {hemoglobin} Also hema- [Gr haimo- < haima, flowing blood (replacing earlier ear, blood, prob. for reasons of taboo); prob. akin to OHG seim, thick-flowing honey < IE base *sei-, *soi-, to drip]
hemochromatosis (hi:'mэ krou'mэ tou´sis, hem'э-) •n. a disorder of iron metabolism, characterized by a bronze-colored skin pigmentation, liver dysfunction, an excess of iron in body organs, and diabetes mellitus [prec. + CHROMAT(O)- + -OSIS]
hemocyanin (-sai´э nin) •n. a blue, oxygen-carrying blood pigment containing copper, found in many arthropods and mollusks [HEMO- + CYAN- + -IN¹]
hemocyte (hi:´mou sait', hem´ou-) •n. a blood cell [HEMO- + -CYTE]
hemocytometer (hi:'mou sai täm´эt эr, hem'ou-) •n. HEMACYTOMETER [HEMO- + CYTO- + -METER]
hemodialysis (-dai æl´э sis) •n. the removal of waste substances from the circulating blood by dialysis
hemoflagellate (-flæj´э leit') •n. any parasitic zooflagellate in the bloodstream
hemoglobin (hi:´mou glou'bin, -mэ-; hem´ou-, hem´э-) •n. 1 the red coloring matter of the red blood corpuscles of vertebrates, a protein yielding heme and globin on hydrolysis: it carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs 2 any of various respiratory pigments found in the blood or muscle tissue of many invertebrates and in the root nodules of some plants he'mo·glo·bin´ic (-glou bin´ik) •adj. he'mo·glo´bi·nous (-bi nэs) •adj. [contr. (as if < HEMO-) < earlier haematoglobulin: see HEMATO- & GLOBULIN]
hemoglobinuria (hi:'mou glou'bi nur´i: э, -nyur´-; hem'ou-) •n. the presence in the urine of hemoglobin free from the red blood cells he'mo·glo'bi·nu´ric •adj.
hemoid (hi:´moid') •adj. like blood [HEM(O)- + -OID]
hemolymph (hi:´mou limf') •n. the circulating fluid in open tissue spaces of invertebrates: it may act as blood, as in arthropods, or be in addition to blood, as in earthworms [HEMO- + LYMPH]
hemolysin (hi:´mou lai'sin, hem´ou-; hi: mäl´э sin) •n. a substance formed in the blood, as by bacterial action, that causes the destruction of red corpuscles with liberation of hemoglobin [< HEMO- + Gr lysis, a dissolving + -IN¹]
hemolysis (hi: mäl´э sis, hi:'mou lai´sis) •n. the destruction of red corpuscles with liberation of hemoglobin into the surrounding fluid he·mo·lyt·ic (hi:'mou lit´ik, hem'э-) •adj. [HEMO- + -LYSIS]
hemolyze (hi:´mou laiz', hem´ou-) -lyzed', -lyz'ing •vi., vt. to undergo, or cause to undergo, hemolysis
hemophile (hi:´mou fail', -mэ-; hem´ou-, -э) •n. a hemophilic bacterium Etymology [HEMO- + -PHILE]
hemophilia (hi:'mou fil´i: э, -mэ-; hem'ou-, hem'э-; -fil´yэ; -fi:l´-) •n. any of several hereditary disorders, nearly always of males, in which one of the normal blood-clotting factors is deficient, causing serious internal or external hemorrhage from minor cuts and injuries: females with this defective gene are, normally, only carriers [ModL: see HEMO- & -PHILIA]
hemophiliac (-fil´i: æk') •n. a person who has hemophilia
hemophilic (-fil´ik) •adj. 1 of or having hemophilia 2 growing well in a medium containing hemoglobin: said of certain bacteria
hemoptysis (hi: mäp´tэ sis, hem äp´-) •n. the spitting or coughing up of blood: usually caused by bleeding of the lungs or bronchi [ModL < HEMO- + Gr ptysis, spitting < ptyein, to spit out < IE echoic base (s)pyū- > L spuere, SPEW]
hemorrhage (hem´эr ij'; often hem´rij') •n. the escape of large quantities of blood from a blood vessel; heavy bleeding •vi. -or·rhaged', -or·rhag'ing to have a hemorrhage hem'or·rhag´ic (-эr æj´ik) •adj. [Fr hémorrhagie < L haemorrhagia < Gr haimorrhagia < haima, blood (see HEMO-) + base of rhēgnynai, to break, burst]
hemorrhoid (hem´эr oid'; often hem´roid') •n. a painful swelling of a vein in the region of the anus, often with bleeding: usually used in pl. hem'or·rhoi´dal •adj. [altered (after L or Gr) < ME emoroid(es) < L haemorrhoidae < Gr haimorrhoïdes (phlebes), (veins) discharging blood < haima, blood haimorrhoos, flowing with blood < (see HEMO-) + rheein, to flow, STREAM]
hemorrhoidectomy (hem'эr oid'ek´tэ mэ') pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal of hemorrhoids [see -ECTOMY]
hemostasis (hi:'mou stei´sis, hem'ou-) pl. -ses •n. 1 the natural or surgical stoppage of bleeding 2 slowing or stoppage of the flow of blood in a vein or artery, as with a tourniquet, blood clot, etc. [ModL < Gr haimostasis: see HEMO- & STASIS]
hemostat (hi:´mou stæt', hem´ou-) •n. anything used to stop bleeding; specif., a) a clamplike instrument used in surgery b) a medicine that hastens clotting [< fol.]
hemostatic (hi:'mou stæt´ik, hem'ou-) •adj. capable of stopping the flow of blood •n. HEMOSTAT (sense b) [see HEMO- & STATIC]
hemotoxin (hi:´mou täk'sin) •n. a toxin capable of destroying erythrocytes he'mo·tox´ic •adj.
hemp (hemp) •n. 1 a) a tall Asiatic herb (Cannabis sativa) of the hemp family, grown for the tough fiber in its stem b) the fiber, used to make rope, sailcloth, etc. c) a substance, such as marijuana, hashish, etc., made from the leaves and flowers of this plant 2 a) any of various plants yielding a hemplike fiber, as the sisal or Manila hemp b) this fiber •adj. designating a family (Cannabaceae, order Urticales) of dicotyledonous plants, including hops [ME < OE hænep (akin to Ger hanf, Du hennep) < PGmc *hanapa- < *kanab-, a pre-Gmc borrowing < a (? Scythian) base > Gr kannabis: akin ? to Sumerian kunibu, hemp]
hemp agrimony a European plant (Eupatorium cannabinum) of the composite family, with reddish flowers, formerly used in medicine
hemp nettle any of a genus (Galeopsis) of European plants of the mint family; esp., a common prickly weed (G. tetrahit) now found in the U.S.
hempen (hemp´эn) •adj. of, made of, or like hemp
hempseed (hemp´si:d') •n. the seed of hemp
Hempstead (hemp´sted, hem´-; -stэd) town on W Long Island, N.Y.: pop. 49,000 [after Heemstede, town in Netherlands; form infl. by name HAMPSTEAD]
hemstitch (hem´stich') •n. 1 an ornamental stitch, used esp. at a hem, made by pulling out several parallel threads and tying the cross threads together into small, even bunches 2 decorative needlework done with this stitch •vt. to put a hemstitch or hemstitches on hem´stitch'er •n.
hen (hen) •n. 1 the female of the domesticated chicken 2 the female of various other birds or of certain other animals, as the lobster 3 [Slang] a woman, esp. an older woman [ME < OE henn, fem. of hana, rooster, akin to Ger henne (fem. of hahn) < IE base *kan-, to sing, crow > L canere, to sing]
hen and chickens the common houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), a flowering plant with a dense rosette of fleshy leaves clustered at the base of the stem from which offshoots arise
hen party [Colloq.] a party for women only
Henan (hэ'nän´) province of EC China: 64,479 sq. mi. (167,645 sq. km); pop. 74,422,000; cap. Zhengzhou
henbane (hen´bein') •n. a coarse, hairy, foul-smelling, poisonous plant (Hyoscyamus niger) of the nightshade family: it is used in medicine as a source of hyoscyamine and scopolamine [ME: see HEN & BANE]
henbit (-bit') •n. a spreading weedy plant (Lamium amplexicaule) of the mint family, with rounded, opposite leaves and small, pink or lavender flowers [HEN + BIT²]
hence (hens) •adv. 1 from this place; away {go hence} 2 a) from this time; after now {a year hence} b) thereafter; subsequently 3 from this life 4 for this reason; as a result; therefore 5 [Archaic] from this origin or source •interj. [Archaic] depart! go away! hence with! [Archaic] away with! take away! [ME hennes < henne < OE heonan(e), from here + -(e)s, adv. gen. suffix (as in SINCE, THENCE) < IE base as in HE¹, HERE]
henceforth (hens förth´, hens´förθ') •adv. 1 from this time on: also hence'for´ward (-för´wэrd) 2 thereafter; subsequently [ME hennesforth: see HENCE & FORTH]
henchman (hench´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 orig., a male attendant; page or squire 2 a trusted helper or follower Æ 3 a political underling who seeks mainly to advance his own interests Æ 4 any of the followers of a criminal gang leader [ME henxtman, hencheman < OE hengest, stallion (see HENGIST) + -man: orig. sense prob. horse attendant]
hencoop (hen´ku:p') •n. a coop for poultry
hendeca- (hen´dek'э, hen dek´э) combining form eleven {hendecasyllabic} [< Gr hendeka, eleven < hen, one (< IE *sem-, one: see SIMPLE) + deka, TEN]
hendecagon (hen dek´э gän') •n. a plane figure with eleven angles and eleven sides hen·de·cag·o·nal (hen'di kæg´э nэl) •adj. [Fr hendécagone: see HENDECA- & -GON]
hendecahedron (hen'dek'э hi:´drэn) pl. -drons •n.or -dra a solid figure with eleven plane surfaces hen'dec'a·he´dral •adj. [ModL: see HENDECA- & -HEDRON]
hendecasyllabic (-se læb´ik) •n. a line of verse having eleven syllables Also hen'dec'a·syl´la·ble (-sil´э bэl) •adj. containing eleven syllables, as a line of verse [L hendecasyllabus < Gr hendekasyllabos: see HENDECA- & SYLLABLE]
hendiadys (hen dai´э dis) •n. a figure of speech in which two nouns joined by and are used instead of a noun and a modifier (Ex.: deceit and words for deceitful words) [ML < Gr phrase hen dia dyoin, one (thing) by means of two]
Hendon (hen´dэn) former urban district in Middlesex, SE England: now part of Barnet
Hendrix (hen´driks), Jim·i (jim´i:) (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) 1942-70; U.S. rock singer, composer, & guitarist
henequen (hen´i ken', hen'i ken´) •n. 1 a tropical American agave (Agave fourcroydes) cultivated for the hard fiber of the leaves 2 the fiber, similar to sisal, used for making rope, twine, rugs, etc. [Sp henequén, jeniquén < native (Taino) name in YUCATÁN]
Hengelo (heŋ´э lou) city in E Netherlands: pop. 76,000
Hengist (heŋ´gist) died A.D. 488; Jute chief; with his brother Horsa (died 455), he is reputed to have led the first Germanic invasion of England & to have founded the kingdom of Kent [OE < hengest, stallion, akin to Ger hengst < IE base *ak-, to leap, spurt forth]
henhouse (hen´haus') •n. a shelter for poultry
Henley (hen´li:) city in SE England, on the Thames: site of an annual rowing regatta; pop. 10,000: also Henley-on-Thames
henna (hen´э) •n. 1 an Old World plant (Lawsonia inermis) of the loosestrife family, with minute, white or red flowers having the fragrance of roses 2 a dye extracted from the leaves of this plant, often used to tint the hair auburn 3 reddish brown •adj. reddish-brown •vt. -naed, -na·ing to tint with henna [Ar hinnā']
hennery (hen´эr i:) pl. -ner·ies •n. a place where poultry is kept
henotheism (hen´ou θi: iz'эm, -θi:'iz'-) •n. belief in or worship of one god without denying the existence of others hen·o·the·ist (hen´ou θi:'ist, -θi: ist) •n. hen'o·the·is´tic •adj. [coined (c. 1860) by MÜLLER < Gr hen, one (see HENDECA-) + theos, god]
henpeck (hen´pek') •vt. to nag and domineer over (one's husband) hen´pecked' •adj.
Henrician (hen rish´эn) •adj. of or having to do with the reign, policies, etc. of any king named Henry, esp. Henry VIII of England [< ML Henricianus < Henricus, HENRY]
Henrietta (hen'ri: et´э) a feminine name: dim. Etta, Hetty, Nettie, Netty [Fr Henriette, dim. of Henri: see HENRY]
Henry (hen´ri:) 1 Fort Confederate fort in NW Tenn., on the Tennessee River: captured (1862) by Union forces 2 Cape promontory in SE Va., at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay [after Prince Henry, son of James I] Henry (hen´ri:) 1 a masculine name: dim. Hal, Hank, Henny; var. Harry; equiv. L. Henricus, Du. Hendrik, Fr. Henri, Ger. Heinrich, It. Enrico, Sp. Enrique; fem. Henrietta 2 1394-1460; prince of Portugal: called Henry the Navigator 3 Henry I 1068-1135; king of England (1100-35): son of William the Conqueror 4 Henry II 1133-89; king of England (1154-89): 1st Plantagenet king 5 Henry III 1207-72; king of England (1216-72) 6 Henry III 1551-89; king of France (1574-89) 7 Henry IV 1050-1106; king of Germany (1056-1105) & Holy Roman Emperor (1084-1105): dethroned 8 Henry IV 1367-1413; king of England (1399-1413): 1st Lancastrian king: son of John of Gaunt: called Bolingbroke 9 Henry IV 1553-1610; king of France (1589-1610): 1st Bourbon king: called Henry of Navarre 10 Henry V 1387-1422; king of England (1413-22): defeated the French at Agincourt 11 Henry VI 1421-71; king of England (1422-61; 1470-71) 12 Henry VII 1457-1509; king of England (1485-1509): 1st Tudor king 13 Henry VIII 1491-1547; king of England (1509-47): broke with the papacy and established the Church of England 14 O. (pseud. of William Sydney Porter) 1862-1910; U.S. short-story writer 15 Patrick 1736-99; Am. patriot, statesman, & orator [Fr Henri < Ger Heinrich < OHG Haganrih, lit., ruler of an enclosure (< hag-, HAW¹, a hedging in + rihhi, ruler) & also altered < OHG Heimerich, lit., home ruler (< heim, HOME)] henry (hen´ri:) pl. -rys •n.or -ries Elec. the unit of inductance, equal to the inductance of a circuit in which the variation of current at the rate of one ampere per second induces an electromotive force of one volt [after J. Henry (1797-1878), U.S. physicist]
hent (hent) hent, hent´ing •vt. [Archaic] to grasp; apprehend •n. [Archaic] 1 a grasping 2 something grasped in the mind; conception; purpose [ME henten < OE hentan, akin to huntian, HUNT]
Henze (hent´sэ), Hans Wer·ner (häns veř´nэř) 1926- ; Ger. composer
hep (hep) •adj. early form of HIP4 [< ? the drill sergeant's shout (alteration of STEP) marking time for marching troops]
heparin (hep´э rin) •n. a substance found in the liver, that slows the clotting of blood: its sodium salt, taken from animals, is used in surgery and medicine [Gr hēpar, the liver (see HEPATIC) + -IN¹]
heparinize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to treat with heparin
hepat- (hep´эt, hi pæt´) combining form HEPATO-: used before a vowel
hepatectomy (hep'э tek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal of part or all of the liver Etymology [HEPAT(O)- + -ECTOMY]
hepatic (hi pæt´ik) •adj. 1 of or affecting the liver 2 like the liver in color or shape 3 of the liverworts •n. LIVERWORT [L hepaticus < Gr hēpatikos < hēpar, the liver < IE base *jekwr- > Sans yákrt, L jecur]
hepatica (hi pæt´i kэ) •n. any of a genus (Hepatica) of small plants of the buttercup family, with three-lobed leaves and white, pink, blue, or purple flowers that bloom in early spring [ModL (see HEPATIC): in allusion to its liver-shaped, lobed leaves]
hepatitis (hep'э tait´is) •n. inflammation of the liver: see INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS [ModL < fol. + -ITIS]
hepato- (hep´э tou') combining form the liver {hepatectomy} [Gr hēpato- < hēpar (gen. hēpatos): see HEPATIC]
hepatoma (hep'э tou´mэ) pl. -mas or -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) •n. a cancer of the liver or from liver cells [HEPAT- + -OMA]
Hepburn (hep´børn'), Katharine 1909- ; U.S. actress
hepcat (hep´kæt') •n. [Old Slang] a jazz enthusiast [HEP + CAT (sense 9)]
Hephaestus (hi: fes´tэs) Gr. Myth. the god of fire and the forge, son of Zeus and Hera: see VULCAN [Gr Hēphaistos]
Hepplewhite (hep´эl hwait') •adj. designating or of a style of furniture characterized by the use of graceful curves [after G. Hepplewhite (?-1786), Eng cabinetmaker]
hepta- (hep´tэ) combining form 1 seven {heptagon} 2 Chem. having seven atoms, radicals, etc. of a (specified) substance {heptachlor} Also, before a vowel, hept- [< Gr hepta, SEVEN]
heptachlor (hep´tэ klör') •n. a waxy solid, C10H7Cl7, similar to chlordane, formerly used as an insecticide
heptad (hep´tæd') •n. a series or group of seven [Gr heptas (gen. heptados) < hepta, SEVEN]
heptagon (hep´tэ gän') •n. a plane figure with seven angles and seven sides hep·tag´o·nal (-tæg´э nэl) •adj. [< Gr heptagōnos, seven-cornered: see HEPTA- & -GON]
heptahedron (hep'tэ hi:´drэn) pl. -drons or -dra (-drэ) •n. a solid figure with seven plane surfaces hep'ta·he´dral •adj. [ModL: see HEPTA- & -HEDRON]
heptamerous (hep tæm´эr эs) •adj. having seven parts in each whorl: said of flowers Also written 7-merous [HEPTA- + -MEROUS]
heptameter (hep tæm´эt эr) •n. a line of verse containing seven metrical feet or measures [HEPTA- + -METER]
heptane (hep´tein') •n. an alkane, C7H16, existing in several isomeric forms: the normal isomer is used in standard mixtures to test octane ratings [HEPT(A)- + -ANE]
heptarchy (hep´tär ki:, -tär'ki:) pl. -chies •n. government by seven rulers the Heptarchy a term used by historians for: 1 orig., the supposed confederacy of seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms 2 the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England before the 9th cent. A.D. [HEPT(A)- + -ARCHY]
heptastich (hep´tэ stik') •n. a poem or stanza of seven lines [HEPTA- + STICH]
Heptateuch (hep´tэ tu:k', -tyu:k') the first seven books of the Bible [LL(Ec) Heptateuchos < Gr(Ec) < hepta, SEVEN + teuchos, a tool, book: see PENTATEUCH]
heptathlete (hep tæθ´li:t') •n. a participant in a heptathlon
heptathlon (hep tæθ´län, -lэn) •n. an athletic contest for women in which each contestant takes part in seven events (100-meter hurdles, shot-put, high jump, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run) [HEPT(A)- + (DEC)ATHLON]
heptose (hep´tous') •n. any of several isomeric monosaccharides, C7H14O7 [HEPT(A)- + -OSE²]
Hepworth (hep´wørθ), Dame Barbara 1903- ; Brit. sculptor
her abbrev. heraldry her (hør; unstressed, эr) objective case of SHE (Ex.: tell her to go): also used, although objected to by some, as a predicate complement with a linking verb (Ex.: that's her) pron. possessive pronominal adj. of, belonging to, made by, or done by her Etymology [ME hir, her, hire < OE hire, dat. sing. of heo, she, fem. of he, HE¹; it replaced the orig. OE acc., hie, in ME]
Hera (hir´э, hi:´rэ) Gr. Myth. the sister and wife of Zeus, queen of the gods, and goddess of women and marriage: identified with the Roman Juno [L < Gr Hēra, Hērē, lit., protectress, akin to hērōs, HERO]
Heraclitus (her'э klait´эs) fl. about 500 B.C.; Gr. philosopher
Heraclius (her'э klai´эs, hi ræk´li: эs) c. A.D. 575-641; Byzantine emperor (610-641)
Herakles or Heracles (her´э kli:z') HERCULES
Heraklion or Herakleion (hi ræk´li: эn) IRAKLION
herald (her´эld) •n. 1 [Historical] any of various officials who made proclamations, carried state messages to other sovereigns, took charge of tournaments, arranged ceremonies, etc. 2 in England, an official in charge of genealogies, coats of arms, etc.: see HERALDS' COLLEGE 3 a person who proclaims or announces significant news, etc.: often used in newspaper names 4 a person or thing that comes before to announce, or give an indication of, what follows; forerunner; harbinger •vt. 1 to introduce, announce, foretell, etc. 2 to publicize [ME < OFr heralt < Gmc *hariwald, army chief: see HAROLD]
heraldic (hэ ræl´dik) •adj. of heraldry or heralds
heraldry (her´эl dri:) pl. -ries •n. 1 the art or science having to do with coats of arms, genealogies, etc. 2 the function of a HERALD (sense 2) 3 a) a coat of arms or heraldic device b) coats of arms, collectively; armorial bearings 4 heraldic ceremony or pomp [< HERALD]
Heralds' College in England, a royal corporation, appointed in 1484, in charge of granting and recording armorial emblems and coats of arms, keeping records of genealogies, etc.
Herat (he rät´) city in NW Afghanistan: pop. 140,000
herb (ørb, hørb) •n. 1 any seed plant whose stem withers away to the ground after each season's growth, as distinguished from a tree or shrub whose woody stem lives from year to year 2 any plant used as a medicine, seasoning, or flavoring: mint, thyme, basil, and sage are herbs 3 vegetative growth; grass [ME erbe, herbe < OFr < L herba, grass, herbage, herb < IE *gherdha < base *gher- > GRASS]
herb Paris a woodland plant (Paris quadrifolia) of the lily family, with yellowish-green flowers, similar to the trillium, but having its leaves and flower parts in fours instead of threes [ML herba paris, lit. prob., herb of a pair (< L herba, HERB + paris, gen. of par, a pair: see PAR, in allusion to even number of flower parts): assoc. with PARIS by folk etym.]
herb Robert a weedy geranium (Geranium robertianum) with strong-scented compound leaves and purple to pink flowers [ME herbe robert < ML herba Roberti: so named ? after Robert, Duke of Normandy or ? after St. Robert, founder of the Carthusians]
herbaceous (hэr bei´shэs, эr-) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, an herb or herbs, as distinguished from woody plants 2 like a green leaf in texture, color, shape, etc. [L herbaceus]
herbage (ør´bij, hør´-) •n. 1 herbs collectively, esp. those used as pasturage; grass 2 the green foliage and juicy stems of herbs 3 Law the right of pasturing cattle on another's land [Fr: see -AGE]
herbal (hør´bэl, ør´-) •adj. of herbs •n. a book about herbs or plants, esp. a book of early botanical writings concerned with their medicinal properties [ML herbalis]
herbalist (hør´bэl ist, ør´-) •n. 1 orig., a descriptive botanist; author of a herbal 2 a person who grows, collects, or deals in herbs, esp. medicinal herbs
herbarium (hэr ber´i: эm, эr-) pl. -i·ums or -i·a (-э) •n. 1 a collection of dried plants classified, mounted, and used for botanical study 2 a room, building, case, etc. for keeping such a collection [LL < L herba, HERB]
Herbart (heř´bäřt; E hør´bärt), Jo·hann Frie·drich (you´hän fři:´dřiH) 1776-1841; Ger. philosopher & educator
herbed (ørbd, hørbd) •adj. containing or flavored with herbs {herbed butters, herbed potatoes}
Herbert (hør´bэrt) 1 a masculine name: dim. Herb, Bert 2 George 1593-1633; Eng. poet & clergyman 3 Victor 1859-1924; U.S. composer & conductor, born in Ireland [OE Herebeorht, lit., bright army < here (see HAROLD) + beorht, BRIGHT]
herbicide (hør´bэ said', ør´-) •n. any chemical substance used to destroy plants, esp. weeds, or to check their growth her'bi·ci´dal •adj. [herbi- (< L herba, HERB) + -CIDE]
herbivore (hør´bэ vör') •n. a herbivorous animal [Fr]
herbivorous (hэr biv´эr эs) •adj. feeding chiefly on grass or other plants [< L herba, herb + -VOROUS]
herby (ør´bi:, hør´-) •adj. 1 full of or covered with herbs; grassy 2 of or like an herb or herbs; herbaceous
Hercegovina (hert'sэ gou vi:´nэ) alt. sp. of HERZEGOVINA
Herculaneum (hør'kyэ lei´ni: эm) ancient city in S Italy, at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius: buried, together with Pompeii, in a volcanic eruption (A.D. 79)
Herculean (hэr kyu:´li: эn; hør'kyu: li:´эn, hør´kyu: li:'-) •adj. 1 of Hercules 2 [usually h-] a) having the great size, strength, or courage of Hercules; very powerful or courageous b) calling for great strength, size, or courage; very difficult to do {a herculean task}
Hercules (hør´kyu: li:z') 1 Gr. & Rom. Myth. the son of Zeus and Alcmene, renowned for his strength and courage, esp. as shown in his performance of twelve labors imposed on him 2 a large N constellation between Ophiuchus and Draco •n. [h-] any very large, strong man [L < Gr Hērakleēs < Hēra, HERA + kleos, glory]
Hercules'-club (-klûb') •n. 1 a small, very spiny tree (Aralia spinosa) of the ginseng family, with clusters of small, white flowers, found in the E U.S.; devil's walking stick 2 a spiny tree or shrub (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) of the rue family, native to the S U.S.; prickly ash [in allusion to the club borne by Hercules]
herd¹ (hørd) •n. 1 a number of cattle, sheep, or other animals feeding, living, or being driven together 2 a) any large group suggestive of this; crowd; company b) the common people; masses (a contemptuous term) •vt., vi. to gather together or move as a herd, group, crowd, etc. SYN. GROUP [ME < OE heord, akin to Ger herde < IE base *kerdho-, a row, group > Sans sárdha, a herd, troop]
herd² (hørd) •n. a herdsman: now chiefly in combination {cowherd, shepherd} •vt., vi. to tend or drive as a herdsman Æ ride herd on 1 to control a moving herd of (cattle) from horseback 2 to keep a close or oppressive watch or control over herd´er •n. [ME herde < OE hierde (akin to Ger hirt) < same base as prec.]
herdic (hør´dik) •n. a low-hung public carriage of the late 19th-cent., with a back entrance and seats along the sides [after P. Herdic (1824-88), U.S. inventor]
herd's-grass (hørdz´græs') •n. 1 REDTOP 2 TIMOTHY
herdsman (hørdz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person who keeps or tends a herd [H-] the constellation Boötes
here (hir; often hi:r) •adv. 1 at or in this place: often used as an intensive [John here is a good player]: in dialectal or nonstandard use, often placed between a demonstrative pronoun and the noun it modifies [this here man ] 2 toward, to, or into this place; hither {come here} 3 at this point in action, speech, discussion, etc.; now {here the judge interrupted} 4 on earth; in earthly life •interj. an exclamation used to call attention, answer a roll call, etc., or, esp. when repeated, to express indignation, remonstrance, etc. •n. this place or point here and there in, at, or to various places or points here goes! an exclamation used when the speaker is about to do something new, daring, disagreeable, etc. neither here nor there beside the point; irrelevant the here and now this place and this time; the present [ME < OE her; akin to Ger hier < IE base *ko-, *ke-, this one > HE¹, HER, L cis, OIr ce]
hereabout (hir'э baut´, hir´э baut') •adv. in this general vicinity; about or near here: also here´a·bouts´
hereafter (hir æf´tэr) •adv. 1 after this; from now on; in the future 2 following this, esp. in a writing, book, etc. 3 in the state or life after death •n. 1 the future 2 the state or life after death
hereat (hir æt´) •adv. 1 at this time; when this occurred 2 at this; for this reason
hereby (hir bai´, hir´bai´) •adv. 1 by or through this; by this means 2 obs. var. of HEREABOUT
hereditament (her'э dit´э mэnt) •n. any property that can be inherited [ML hereditamentum]
hereditarian (hэ red'i ter´i: эn) •n. a person who accepts the theory that heredity is of overriding importance in determining individual characteristics he·red'i·tar´i·an·ism' •n.
hereditary (hэ red´i ter'i:) •adj. 1 a) of, or passed down by, inheritance from an ancestor to a legal heir; ancestral b) having title, right, etc. by inheritance 2 of, or passed down by, heredity; designating or of a characteristic transmitted genetically from generation to generation 3 being such because of attitudes, beliefs, etc. passed down through generations {hereditary allies} SYN. INNATE he·red´i·tar'i·ly •adv. he·red´i·tar'i·ness •n. [L hereditarius < hereditas: see HEREDITY]
heredity (hэ red´i ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 a) the transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring by means of genes in the chromosomes b) the tendency of offspring to resemble parents or ancestors through such transmission 2 all the characteristics inherited genetically by an individual [Fr hérédité < L hereditas, heirship < heres, heir < IE base *ghē-, to be empty, leave behind > GO¹, Gr chēres, bereft]
Hereford (her´э fэrd; for n., usually hør´fэrd) 1 city in WC England, on the Wye River: pop. 47,000 2 former county of England (see HEREFORD AND WORCESTER): also Her´e·ford·shire' (-shir') •n. any of a breed of medium-sized beef cattle originated in Hereford, having a red body and a white face, brisket, and belly
Hereford and Worcester county of WC England, comprising the former counties of Hereford and Worcester: 1,516 sq. mi. (3,927 sq. km); pop. 645,000
herein (hir in´, hir´in') •adv. 1 in here; in or into this place 2 in this writing 3 in this matter, detail, etc.
hereinabove (hir'in э bûv´) •adv. in the preceding part (of this document, speech, etc.): also here'in·be·fore´ (-bi: för´)
hereinafter (-æf´tэr) •adv. in the following part (of this document, speech, etc.): also here'in·be·low´ (-bi: lou´)
hereinto (hir in´tu:, hir'in tu:´) •adv. 1 into this place 2 into this matter, condition, etc.
hereof (hir ûv´) •adv. 1 of this 2 concerning this 3 [Obs.] from this; hence
hereon (hir´än´, hir´än) •adv. HEREUPON
here's (hirz) here is
here's to! here's a toast to! I wish success (or joy, etc.) to!
heresiarch (hэ rez´i: ärk'; also hэ ri:´zi:-) •n. the founder or head of a heresy or heretical sect [LL(Ec) haeresiarcha < Gr hairesiarchēs, leader of a school < hairesis (see HERESY) + -archēs, leader < archein, to begin, lead]
heresy (her´i si:) pl. -sies •n. 1 a) a religious belief opposed to the orthodox doctrines of a church; esp., such a belief specifically denounced by the church b) the rejection of a belief that is a part of church dogma 2 any opinion (in philosophy, politics, etc.) opposed to official or established views or doctrines 3 the holding of any such belief or opinion [ME heresie < OFr < L haeresis, school of thought, sect, in LL(Ec), heresy < Gr hairesis, a taking, selection, school, sect, in LGr(Ec), heresy < hairein, to take]
heretic (her´э tik) •n. a person who professes a heresy; esp., a church member who holds beliefs opposed to church dogma •adj. HERETICAL [ME heretike < MFr hérétique < LL(Ec) haereticus, of heresy, heretic < Gr hairetikos, able to choose, in LGr(Ec), heretical < hairein, to take, choose]
heretical (hэ ret´i kэl) •adj. 1 of heresy or heretics 2 containing, characterized by, or having the nature of heresy he·ret´i·cal·ly •adv. [ML haereticalis]
hereto (hir tu:´) •adv. to this (document, matter, etc.) {attached hereto}: also here·un·to (hir ûn´tu:', hir'ûn tu:´) [ME her to]
heretofore (hir'tu: för´, hir´tu: för'; -tэ-) •adv. up until now; until the present; before this [ME her (see HERE) + toforen, before < OE toforan]
hereunder (hir ûn´dэr, hir´ûn'-) •adv. 1 under or below this (in a document, etc.) 2 under the terms stated here
hereupon (hir'э pän´, hir´э pän') •adv. 1 immediately following this; at once 2 upon this; concerning this subject, etc.
herewith (hir wið´, hir´wið') •adv. 1 along with this 2 by this method or means
heriot (her´i: эt) •n. Eng. Feudal Law a payment in chattels or money (orig., a restoration of arms, equipment, etc.) made to the lord from the possessions of a tenant who had died [ME heriet < OE heregeatwe, lit., army equipment < here, army (see HAROLD) + geatwe, earlier ge-tawe, equipment, arms < tawian, to prepare: see TAW¹]
heritable (her´it э bэl) •adj. 1 that can be inherited 2 that can inherit her'it·a·bil´i·ty •n. [ME heretable < OFr héritable: see HERITAGE]
heritage (her´i tij') •n. 1 property that is or can be inherited 2 a) something handed down from one's ancestors or the past, as a characteristic, a culture, tradition, etc. b) the rights, burdens, or status resulting from being born in a certain time or place; birthright SYN.—heritage, the most general of these words, applies either to property passed on to an heir, or to a tradition, culture, etc. passed on to a later generation [our heritage of freedom]; inheritance applies to property, a characteristic, etc. passed on to an heir; patrimony strictly refers to an estate inherited from one's father, but it is also used of anything passed on from an ancestor; birthright, in its stricter sense, applies to the property rights of a first-born son [ME < OFr < heriter < LL(Ec) hereditare, to inherit < L hereditas: see HEREDITY]
heritor (her´i tэr) •n. an inheritor, or heir [ME heriter < OFr heritier < ML hereditarius (for L heres, heir) < L, HEREDITARY]
herky-jerky (hør´ki: jør´ki:) •adj. [Colloq.] irregular, uneven, or spasmodic; not smooth or graceful [redupl. of JERKY¹]
herl (hørl) •n. an artificial fishing fly trimmed with the barb or barbs of a feather [ME herle: see HARL]
herm (hørm) •n. a square pillar of stone topped by a bust or head, originally of Hermes: such pillars were used as milestones, signposts, etc. in ancient Greece Also her·ma (hør´mэ), pl. -mae (-mi:) or -mai' (-mai') [< L herma < Gr Hermēs, HERMES]
Herman (hør´mэn) a masculine name: equiv. Fr. Armand, Ger Hermann, It. Ermanno [Ger Hermann < OHG Hariman < heri, army (see HAROLD) + man, MAN]
hermaphrodite (hэr mæf´rou dait', -rэ-) •n. 1 a person or animal with the sexual organs of both the male and the female 2 a plant having stamens and pistils in the same flower 3 HERMAPHRODITE BRIG •adj. HERMAPHRODITIC her·maph´ro·dit'ism' or her·maph´ro·dism' (-diz'эm) •n. [altered (modeled on L or Gr) < ME hermofrodite < L hermaphroditus < Gr hermaphroditos, < Hermaphroditos, HERMAPHRODITUS]
hermaphrodite brig a two-masted ship with a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft-rigged mainmast
hermaphroditic (hэr mæf´rou dit´ik, -rэ-) •adj. of, or having the nature of, a hermaphrodite Also her·maph'ro·dit´i·cal her·maph'ro·dit´i·cal·ly •adv.
Hermaphroditus (hэr mæf'rou dait´эs) Gr. Myth. the son of Hermes and Aphrodite: while bathing, he becomes united in a single body with a nymph [L < Gr Hermaphroditos]
hermeneutic (hør'mэ nu:t´ik, -nyu:t´-) •adj. of hermeneutics; interpretive Also her'me·neu´ti·cal [Gr hermēneutikos < hermēneuein, to interpret < hermēneus, translator]
hermeneutics (-iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the art or science of the interpretation of literature [< prec.]
Hermes (hør´mi:z') Gr. Myth. the god who serves as herald and messenger of the other gods, generally pictured with winged shoes and hat, carrying a caduceus: he is also the god of science, commerce, eloquence, and cunning, and guide of departed souls to Hades: identified with the Roman Mercury [L < Gr Hermēs]
Hermes Trismegistus (tris'mэ jis´tэs) Gr. name for THOTH [Gr Hermēs trismegistos, lit., Hermes the thrice greatest]
hermetic (hэr met´ik) •adj. 1 [usually H-] of or derived from Hermes Trismegistus and his lore 2 [sometimes H-] a) magical; alchemic b) hard to understand; obscure 3 completely sealed by fusion, soldering, etc. so as to keep air or gas from getting in or out; airtight: also her·met´i·cal [from use in alchemy] her·met´i·cal·ly •adv. [ModL hermeticus < L Hermes < Gr Hermēs (trismegistos)]
Hermione (hэr mai´э ni:) Gr. Legend the daughter of Menelaus and Helen of Troy
hermit (hør´mit) •n. 1 a person who lives alone in a lonely or secluded spot, often from religious motives; recluse Æ 2 a spiced cookie made with nuts and raisins her·mit´ic or her·mit´i·cal •adj. Etymology [ME hermite < OFr < LL(Ec) eremita < LGr erēmitēs, a hermit < Gr, of the desert < erēmos, desolate < IE base *er-, loose, distant, to separate > Sans *árma- (pl.), fragments, ruins]
hermit crab any of various crabs (esp. family Paguridae) that have asymmetrical, soft abdomens and live in the empty shells of certain mollusks, as snails
hermit thrush a North American thrush (Catharus guttatus) with a brown body, spotted breast, and reddish-brown tail
hermit warbler a common wood warbler (Dendroica occidentalis) of W North America, with a yellow-and-black head, a gray back, and white underparts
Hermitage (er'mi: täzh´) •n. a full-bodied red or white wine from vineyards on the Rhone near Valence, France [after Tain-l' Ermitage, town in SE France] hermitage (hør´mi tij) •n. 1 the place where a hermit lives 2 a place where a person can live away from other people; secluded retreat [ME < OFr: see -AGE]
Hermon (hør´mэn), Mount mountain on the Syria-Lebanon border, in the Anti-Lebanon mountains: 9,232 ft. (2,814 m)
Hermosillo (eř'mô si:´yô) city in NW Mexico: capital of Sonora state: pop. 340,000
hern (hørn) •n. archaic or dial. var. of HERON
hernia (hør´ni: э, hørn´yэ) pl. -ni·as or -ni·ae' (-i:', -ai´) •n. the protrusion of all or part of an organ through a tear in the wall of the surrounding structure; esp., the protrusion of part of the intestine through the abdominal muscles; rupture her´ni·al •adj. [L: for IE base see YARN]
herniate (hør´ni: eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vi. to protrude so as to form a hernia her'ni·a´tion •n.
Hero (hi:´rou', hir´ou) 1 Gr. Legend a priestess of Aphrodite at Sestos: her lover, Leander, swims the Hellespont from Abydos every night to be with her; when he drowns in a storm, Hero throws herself into the sea 2 HERON [L < Gr Hērō] hero (hir´ou; also hi:´rou') pl. -roes •n. 1 Myth., Legend a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped after his death 2 any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, or exploits, esp. in war 3 any person, esp. a man, admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model 4 the central male character in a novel, play, poem, etc., with whom the reader or audience is supposed to sympathize 5 the central figure in any important event or period, honored for outstanding qualities Æ 6 HERO SANDWICH [L heros < Gr hērōs < IE base *ser-, to watch over, protect > Av haraiti, (he) protects, Lith sárgas, watchman]
hero sandwich a sandwich made of a large roll sliced lengthwise and filled with various cold meats, cheeses, and vegetables
hero worship great or excessive reverence or admiration for heroes or other persons he´ro-wor'ship •vt. he´ro-wor'ship·er •n.
Herod (her´эd) 73-4 B.C.; Idumaean king of Judea (37-4): called Herod the Great [L Herodes < Gr Hērōdēs]
Herod Agrippa I c. 10 B.C.-A.D. 44; king of Judea (A.D. 37-44): grandson of Herod (the Great)
Herod Antipas (æn´ti pæs') died c. A.D. 40; tetrarch of Galilee (c. 4 B.C.-A.D. 39): son of Herod (the Great)
Herodias (hэ rou´di: эs) Bible the second wife of Herod Antipas & mother of Salome: Mark 6:17-28
Herodotus (hэ räd´э tэs) c. 485-c. 425 B.C.; Gr. historian: called the Father of History
heroic (hi rou´ik) •adj. 1 of or characterized by men of godlike strength and courage {the heroic age of Greece and Rome} 2 like or characteristic of a hero or his deeds; strong, brave, noble, powerful, etc. {heroic conduct, a heroic effort} 3 of or about a hero and his deeds; epic {a heroic poem} 4 exalted; eloquent; high-flown {heroic words} 5 daring and risky, but used as a last resort {heroic measures} 6 Art larger than life-size but less than colossal {a heroic statue} Also he·ro´i·cal •n. 1 [usually pl.] HEROIC VERSE 2 [pl.] a) pretentious or extravagant talk or action meant to seem heroic b) heroic behavior or deeds he·ro´i·cal·ly •adv. [L heroicus < Gr heroikos, of a hero < hērōs, HERO]
heroic couplet a rhyming pair of iambic-pentameter lines, first used extensively in English by Chaucer and later developed as a syntactically complete unit, esp. by Dryden and Pope (Ex.: In every work regard the writer's end, Since none can compass more than they intend)
heroic verse the verse form in which epic poetry is traditionally written, as dactylic hexameter in Greek or Latin, the alexandrine in French, and iambic pentameter in English
heroin (her´ou in) •n. a white, crystalline powder, an acetyl derivative of morphine, C17H17NO(C2H3O2)2: it is a very powerful, habit-forming narcotic whose manufacture and import are prohibited in the U.S. [Ger, orig., trademark: coined (1898) by H. Dreser, Ger chemist < Gr hērōs, HERO + Ger -in, -INE³: ? because of euphoric effect]
heroine (her´ou in) •n. 1 a girl or woman of outstanding courage, nobility, etc., or of heroic achievements 2 the central female character in a novel, play, etc., with whom the reader or audience is supposed to sympathize [L heroina < Gr hērōinē, fem. of hērōs, HERO]
heroism (her´ou iz'эm) •n. the qualities and actions of a hero or heroine; bravery, nobility, valor, etc. [Fr héroisme]
heroize (hir´ou aiz', her´-) -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make a hero of; treat as a hero [HERO + -IZE]
Heron (hir´än) fl. 3d cent. A.D.; Gr. mathematician & inventor: also called Heron of Alexandria heron (her´эn) pl. -ons •n.or -on any of various wading birds (esp. subfamily Ardeinae) with a long neck, long legs, and a long, tapered bill, living along marshes and river banks [ME heroun < OFr hairon < Frank *heigro (akin to OHG heigir, ON hegri) < IE *(s)ker-, var. of base *ker-, echoic of hoarse cry > SCREAM]
heronry (her´эn ri:) pl. -ries •n. a place where many herons gather to breed
heronsbill (her´эnz bil') •n. any of a genus (Erodium) of plants of the geranium family, with fine leaves and yellow, white, or reddish flowers
herpes (hør´pi:z') •n. any of several acute, inflammatory virus diseases, characterized by the eruption of small blisters on the skin and mucous membranes her·pet·ic (hэr pet´ik) •adj. [L < Gr herpēs, lit., a creeping, herpes < herpein, to creep: see SERPENT]
herpes simplex (sim´pleks') a recurrent, incurable form of herpes usually affecting the mouth, lips, or face (type one) or the genitals (type two): the genital type is a venereal disease
herpes zoster (zäs´tэr) a viral infection of certain sensory nerves, causing pain and an eruption of blisters along the course of the affected nerve; shingles [L < herpes + zoster, shingles < Gr zōstēr, a girdle, akin to zōnē: see ZONE]
herpetology (hør'pэ täl´э ji:) •n. the branch of zoology having to do with the study of reptiles and amphibians her'pe·to·log´ic (-tou läj´ik) or her'pe·to·log´i·cal •adj. her'pe·tol´o·gist •n. [< Gr herpeton, reptile (< herpein, to creep: see SERPENT)]
Herr (heř) pl. Her´ren (-эn) •n. in Germany, a man; gentleman: also used as a title corresponding to Mr. or Sir [Ger; orig. compar. of hehr, noble, venerable, akin to OE har, HOAR]
Herrera (e ře´řä), Fran·cis·co de (fřän θi:s´kô ðe) c. 1576-c. 1656; Sp. painter: called El Viejo (the Elder)
Herrick (her´ik), Robert 1591-1674; Eng. poet
herring (her´iŋ) pl. -rings •n.or -ring any of various clupeid fishes; esp., a small, silvery food fish (Clupea harengus) of northern seas that is canned as a sardine [ME hering < OE hæring, akin to Ger hering]
herring gull the common sea gull (Larus argentatus) of the Northern Hemisphere, having gray-and-white plumage and black-tipped wings
herringbone (-boun') •n. 1 the spine of a herring, having numerous thin, parallel bony extensions on each side similar to the barbs of a feather 2 a pattern with such a design or anything having such a pattern, as a kind of cross-stitch, a twill weave, or an arrangement of bricks 3 a method of climbing a slope on skis with the ski tips turned outward so that the tracks form a herringbone pattern •adj. having the pattern of a herringbone •vi., vt. -boned', -bon'ing 1 to stitch, weave, or arrange in a herringbone pattern 2 to climb (a slope) on skis, using the herringbone method
hers (hørz) pron. that or those belonging to her: the absolute form of her, used without a following noun, often after of {a friend of hers, that book is hers, hers are better} [LME hires, hers < hire, her(e), poss. adj. (see HER) + -s after his]
Herschel (hør´shэl) 1 Sir John Frederick William 1792-1871; Eng. astronomer, chemist, & physicist: son of Sir William 2 Sir William (born Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel) 1738-1822; Eng. astronomer, born in Germany
herself (hэr self´) pron. a form of the 3d pers. sing., fem. pronoun, used: a) as an intensive {she went herself} b) as a reflexive {she hurt herself} c) [Irish] as a subject {herself will have her tea now} d) as a quasi-noun meaning her real, true, or actual self [she is not herself today] (in this construction her may be considered a possessive pronominal adjective and self a noun, and they may be separated [her own sweet self]) [ME hire self < OE hire selfum, dat. sing. of hie self: see HER & SELF]
Herstmonceux (hørst'mэn su:´) village in East Sussex, S England: site of the Royal Greenwich Observatory
Hertfordshire (här´fэrd shir, härt´-) county in SE England: 632 sq. mi. (1,634 sq. km); pop. 980,000: also called Hert´ford or Herts (härts)
Hertogenbosch , 's see 'S HERTOGENBOSCH
Hertz (heřts; E hørts), Hein·rich Ru·dolf (hain´řiH řu:´dôlf) 1857-94; Ger. physicist hertz (herts, hørts) pl. hertz •n. the international unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second [after fol.]
Hertzian waves (hert´si: эn, hørt´-) [sometimes h- w-] radio waves or other electromagnetic radiation resulting from the oscillations of electricity in a conductor [after prec., who discovered them]
Herzberg (hørts´bэrg), Ger·hard (ger´härt) 1904- ; Cdn. physicist, born in Germany
Herzegovina (hert'sэ gou vi:´nэ) see BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Herzl (heř´tsªl), The·o·dor (tei´ô dôř') 1860-1904; Austrian writer, born in Hungary: founder of Zionism
he's (hi:z; unstressed, i:z) 1 he is 2 he has
Heshvan (khesh vän´; E hesh´vэn) •n. the second month of the Jewish year: see JEWISH CALENDAR [Heb]
Hesiod (hi:´si: эd, hes´i:-) fl. 8th cent. B.C.; Gr. poet He'si·od´ic (-äd´ik) •adj.
hesitancy (hez´i tэn si:) pl. -cies hesitation or indecision; doubt Also hes´i·tance (-tэns) •n. [L haesitantia, a stammering < haesitans, prp. of haesitare]
hesitant (hez´i tэnt) •adj. hesitating or undecided; vacillating; doubtful SYN. RELUCTANT hes´i·tant·ly •adv. [L haesitans: see HESITANCY]
hesitate (hez´i teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vi. 1 to stop because of indecision; pause or delay in acting, choosing, or deciding because of feeling unsure; waver 2 to pause; stop momentarily 3 to be reluctant; not be sure that one should {hesitating to ask} 4 to pause continually in speaking; stammer hes´i·tat'er or hes´i·ta'tor •n. hes´i·tat'ing·ly •adv. [< L haesitatus, pp. of haesitare, to stick fast, hesitate, intens. of haerere, to stick, cleave < IE base *ghais-, to be stuck, neglect > prob. Lith gaištù, to neglect]
hesitation (hez'i tei´shэn) •n. a hesitating or feeling hesitant; specif., a) uncertainty; indecision b) reluctance c) the act of groping for words; halting speech d) a pausing or delaying hes´i·ta'tive •adj. hes´i·ta'tive·ly •adv. [L haesitatio]
Hesper (hes´pэr) [Old Poet.] HESPERUS
Hesperia (hes pir´i: э) the Western Land: the ancient Greek name for Italy and the Roman name for Spain [L < Gr Hesperia < hesperos: see HESPERIAN]
Hesperian (hes pir´i: эn) •adj. 1 of Hesperia 2 western; occidental 3 [Old Poet.] of the Hesperides •n. [Rare] an inhabitant of Hesperia or any western land [< L Hesperius < Gr Hesperios, of Hesperus, western, evening < Hesperos, the evening star < IE *wesperos, evening: see VESPER]
Hesperides (hes per´i di:z') Gr. Myth. 1 sing. Hes·per·id (hes´pэr id) the nymphs who guard the golden apples given as a wedding gift by Gaea to Hera 2 the garden where the apples grow
hesperidin (hes per´i din) •n. a crystalline glucoside, C28H34O15, derived from flavanone and found in the peel of many citrus fruits [< ModL hesperidium, orange (in allusion to the golden apples of prec.) + -IN¹]
hesperidium (hes'pэr id´i: эm) pl. -id´i·a (-э) •n. the fruit of a citrus plant, as an orange or lemon [see HESPERIDIN]
Hesperus (hes´pэr эs) the evening star, esp. Venus [L < Gr Hesperos: see HESPERIAN]
Hess (hes), (Walther Richard) Rudolf 1894-1987; Ger. Nazi leader
Hesse (hes, hes´i) 1 state of central Germany: 8,150 sq. mi. (21,110 sq. km); pop. 5,580,000; cap. Wiesbaden 2 former region in WC Germany embracing various political units historically: Ger. name Hes·sen (hes´эn) Hesse (hes´э), Hermann (heř´män) 1877-1962; Ger. novelist in Switzerland
Hessian (hesh´эn) •adj. of Hesse or its people •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Hesse 2 any of the Hessian mercenaries who fought for the British in the Revolutionary War 3 [h-] a coarse cloth used for bags
Hessian boots knee-high, tasseled boots, introduced into England by Hessian troops in the 19th cent.
Hessian fly a small gall midge (Mayetiola destructor) whose larvae destroy wheat crops
hessite (hes´ait') •n. silver telluride, Ag2Te, a mineral found in gray, sectile masses [after G. H. Hess (1802-50), Swiss chemist + -ITE¹]
hessonite (hes´э nait') •n. ESSONITE
hest (hest) •n. [Archaic] behest; bidding; order Etymology [ME, with unhistoric -t < OE hæs, command < base of hatan, to call, akin to Ger heissen < IE base *kēi-, to set in motion > L ciere, Gr kinein]
Hester (hes´tэr) a feminine name: see ESTHER
Hestia (hes´ti: э) Gr. Myth. the goddess of the hearth: identified with the Roman Vesta [Gr]
Heston and Isleworth (hes´tэn эnd ai´zªl wørθ') former municipal borough in Middlesex, England: now part of Hounslow
het or heth (khet) name of the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ח) •n.
het up (het) [Slang] excited or angry [het, dial. pt. & pp. of HEAT]
hetaera (hi tir´э) pl. -rae (-i:) or -ras in ancient Greece, a courtesan or concubine, usually an educated slave Also he·tai´ra (-tai´rэ), pl. -rai' (-rai') •n. [Gr hetaira, fem. of hetairos, companion]
hetaerism (hi tir´iz'эm) •n. 1 CONCUBINAGE 2 a system of communal marriage supposed to have been practiced among some early peoples Also he·tai´rism' (-tai´riz'эm) [Gr hetairismos < hetairizein, to be a hetaera: see HETAERA]
hetero (het´эr ou') pl. -os' •n. [Slang] short for HETEROSEXUAL
hetero- (het´эr ou', -э) combining form other, another, different {heterosexual} Also, before a vowel, heter- [Gr hetero-, other, different < heteros, the other (of two), earlier hateros < IE *sm-tero- < base *sem-, *sm-, one, together > L semper, simplus + *-tero-, expressing contrast, comparison]
heterocercal (het'эr ou'sør´kэl, -эr э-) •adj. designating, of, or having a tail fin in which the upper lobe is larger than the lower and contains the upturned end of the spinal column, as in certain fishes, esp. sharks [< prec. + Gr kerkos, a tail + -AL]
heterochromatic (-krou mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of, having, or consisting of different or contrasting colors; many-colored 2 of heterochromatin [HETERO- + CHROMATIC]
heterochromatin (het'эr ou'krou´mэ tin, -эr э-) •n. Biol. the portion of the chromatin that stains densely and contains few or no genes: cf. EUCHROMATIN [HETERO- + CHROMATIN]
heterochromosome (-krou´mэ soum') •n. SEX CHROMOSOME
heteroclite (het´эr ou klait', -эr э-) •adj. departing from the standard or norm; abnormal; anomalous Also het'er·o·clit´ic (-klit´ik) •n. 1 Gram. a word, esp. a noun, inflected irregularly 2 [Rare] an anomaly [Fr héteroclite < LL heteroclitus < Gr heteroklitos, irregularly inflected < hetero- (see HETERO-) + klinein, to bend, INCLINE]
heterocyclic (-saik´lik) •adj. of or relating to certain cyclic compounds with a ring composed of carbon atoms and those of any other element or elements [HETERO- + CYCLIC]
heterodox (het´эr ou däks', -эr э-) •adj. departing from or opposed to the usual beliefs or established doctrines, esp. in religion; inclining toward heresy; unorthodox [Gr(Ec) heterodoxos < Gr hetero-, HETERO- + doxa, opinion, akin to dokein, to think, seem: see DECENT]
heterodoxy (het´эr ou däk'si:, -эr э-) pl. -dox'ies •n. 1 the quality or fact of being heterodox 2 a heterodox belief or doctrine [Gr heterodoxia]
heterodyne (het´эr ou dain', -эr э-) •adj. designating or of the combination of two different radio frequencies to produce beats whose frequencies are equal to the sum or difference of the original frequencies •vi. -dyned', -dyn'ing to combine two different frequencies so as to produce beats [HETERO- + DYNE]
heteroecious (het'эr i:´shэs) •adj. Biol. living as a parasite on first one species of host and then another het'er·oe´cism' (-siz'эm) •n. [< HETERO- + Gr oikia, a house (see ECO-) + -OUS]
heterogamete (het'эr ou'gæm´i:t', -gэ mi:t´) •n. a gamete differentiated in size, structure, or activity from another with which it unites, typified by the relatively large ovum and the much smaller and more active sperm Opposed to ISOGAMETE het'er·o'ga·met´ic (-gэ met´ik) •adj.
heterogamous (het'эr äg´э mэs) •adj. 1 characterized by the uniting of heterogametes 2 characterized by reproduction in which sexual and asexual generations alternate 3 bearing flowers that are sexually different het'er·og´a·my (-mi:) •n.
heterogeneous (het'эr ou'ji:´ni: эs, -эr э-) •adj. 1 differing or opposite in structure, quality, etc.; dissimilar; incongruous; foreign 2 composed of unrelated or unlike elements or parts; varied; miscellaneous het'er·o'ge·ne´i·ty (-jэ ni:´э ti:), pl. -ties, •n. het'er·o'ge´ne·ous·ly •adv. het'er·o'ge´ne·ous·ness •n. [ML heterogeneus < Gr heterogenēs < hetero-, other, HETERO- + genos, a race, kind: see GENUS]
heterogenesis (-jen´э sis) •n. ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS het'er·o'ge·net´ic (-jэ net´ik) •adj. [HETERO- + -GENESIS]
heterogenous (het'эr äj´э nэs) •adj. of different origin; not from the same source, individual, or species [HETERO- + -GENOUS]
heterogony (het'эr äg´э ni:) •n. 1 ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS 2 HETEROSTYLY 3 ALLOMETRY het'er·og´o·nous (-nэs) •adj. [HETERO- + -GONY]
heterograft (het´эr ou græft', -эr э-) •n. XENOGRAFT
heterography (het'эr äg´rэ fi:) •n. 1 spelling that differs from current standard usage 2 spelling, as in modern English, in which a given letter or combination of letters does not always represent the same sound het'er·o·graph´ic (-э græf´ik) •adj. [HETERO- + -GRAPHY]
heterogynous (het'эr äj´э nэs) •adj. having two kinds of females, reproductive and nonreproductive, as ants or bees [HETERO- + -GYNOUS]
heterolecithal (het'эr ou'les´i θэl) •n. having the yolk unevenly distributed, as in bird eggs [HETERO- + LECITH(IN) + -AL]
heterologous (het'эr äl´э gэs) •adj. 1 consisting of differing elements; not corresponding, as parts of different organisms or of the same organism that are unlike in structure or origin 2 Med. a) derived from a different species, as a graft b) not normal in structure, organization, etc. het'er·ol´o·gy (-ji:) •n. [< HETERO- + Gr logos, relation, word (see LOGIC) + -OUS]
heterolysis (het'эr äl´э sis) •n. 1 the destruction of cells of one species by lysins or enzymes derived from cells of a different species 2 Chem. the breakdown of a compound into two particles with opposite charges het'er·o'lyt´ic (-ou'lit´ik) •adj. [HETERO- + -LYSIS]
heteromerous (het'эr äm´эr эs) •adj. Bot. having a whorl or whorls with a different number of parts than that of the other whorls [HETERO- + -MEROUS]
heterometabolism (het'эr ou'mэ tæb´э liz'эm, -эr э-) •n. insect development in which the young hatch in a form very similar to the adult and then mature without a pupal stage het'er·o'met'a·bol´ic (-met'э bäl´ik) or het'er·o'me·tab´o·lous (-mэ tæb´э lэs) •adj. [HETERO- + METABOLISM]
heteromorphic (-mör´fik) •adj. 1 differing from the standard type or form 2 exhibiting different forms at various stages of development, as insects in the larval and pupal stages Also het'er·o'mor´phous het'er·o'mor´phism •n. [HETERO- + -MORPHIC]
heteronomous (het'эr än´э mэs) •adj. 1 subject to another's laws or rule 2 subject to different laws of growth; differentiated or specialized, as parts or organs het'er·on´o·my (-mi:) •n. [HETERO- + Gr nomos, law (see -NOMY) + -OUS]
heteronym (het´эr ou nim', -эr э-) •n. a word with the same spelling as another or others, but with different meaning and pronunciation (Ex.: tear, a drop of water from the eye, and tear, to rip [back-form < fol., modeled on SYNONYM]
heteronymous (het'эr än´i mэs) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, a heteronym 2 having different names, as a pair of correlatives {son and daughter are heteronymous} 3 designating or of the two crossed images of something seen when the eyes are focused at a point beyond it het'er·on´y·mous·ly •adv. [Gr heterōnymos < hetero, HETERO- + onyma, NAME]
heterophil (het´эr ou fil', -эr э-) •adj. designating or of a substance that reacts with more than one substance, as an antigen or antibody [HETERO- + -PHIL]
heterophony (het'эr äf´э ni:) •n. the playing of a passage of music with simultaneous variations in melody or rhythm by two or more performers [HETERO- + -PHONY]
heterophyllous (het'эr ou'fil´эs, -эr э-) •adj. growing leaves of different forms on the same stem or plant het´er·o·phyl'ly •n. [HETERO- + -PHYLLOUS]
heterophyte (het´эr ou fait', -эr э-) •n. a plant which obtains its food from other plants or animals, living or dead het'er·o'phyt´ic (-fit´ik) •adj. [HETERO- + -PHYTE]
heteroplasty (-plæs'ti:) •n. plastic surgery in which tissue from one species is grafted onto another: see HOMOPLASTIC (sense 2), AUTOPLASTY het'er·o'plas´tic •adj. [HETERO- + -PLASTY]
heteroploid (-ploid') •adj. having a chromosome number that is other than a simple multiple of the haploid number: see EUPLOID het´er·o·ploi'dy •n. [HETERO- + -PLOID]
heteropterous (het'эr äp´tэr эs) •adj. HEMIPTEROUS
heterosexual (het'эr ou'sek´shu: эl, -эr э-) •adj. 1 of or characterized by sexual desire for those of the opposite sex 2 Biol. of different sexes •n. a heterosexual individual het'er·o'sex'u·al´i·ty (-æl´э ti:) •n.
heterosis (het'эr ou´sis) •n. a phenomenon resulting from hybridization, in which offspring display greater vigor, size, resistance, etc. than the parents het'er·ot´ic (-ät´ik) •adj. [HETER(O)- + -OSIS]
heterosphere (het´эr ou sfir', -эr э-) •n. the upper of two divisions of the earth's atmosphere, above c. 70 km (43 miles), characterized by variation in its component gases: cf. HOMOSPHERE
heterosporous (het'эr äs´pэ rэs; het'эr ou spör´эs, -эr э-) •adj. Bot. producing more than one kind of spore; esp., producing microspores and megaspores het'er·os´po·ry •n.
heterostyly (het´эr ou stai'li:, -эr э-) •n. the condition in which flowers on polymorphous plants have styles of different lengths, thereby encouraging cross-pollination het'er·o'sty´lous •adj. [HETERO- + STYL(E) + -Y4]
heterotaxis (het'эr ou'tæk´sis, -эr э-) •n. an abnormal position or arrangement, as of organs of the body, rock strata, etc. Also het'er·o'tax´i·a (-si: э) or het´er·o·tax'y het'er·o'tac´tic (-tæk´tik), het'er·o'tac´tous (-tæk´tэs), or het'er·o'tax´ic (-tæk´sik) •adj. [ModL < HETERO- + Gr taxis, arrangement: see TAXIS]
heterothallic (-θæl´ik) •adj. designating or possessing two forms of mycelia that interact as male and female in reproduction het'er·o'thal´lism •n. [HETERO- + THALL(US) + -IC]
heterotopia (het'эr ou'tou´pi: э, -эr э-) •n. the abnormal location of an organ, tissue, or body part Also het'er·ot´o·py (-ät´э pi:) het'er·o'top´ic (-ou'täp´ik) •adj. [ModL < HETERO- + Gr topos, place: see TOPIC]
heterotrophic (-träf´ik, -trou´fik) •adj. obtaining food from organic material only; unable to use inorganic matter to form proteins and carbohydrates: cf. AUTOTROPHIC [HETERO- + TROPHIC]
heterotypic (-tip´ik) •adj. designating or of the first meiotic division of a germ cell Also het'er·o'typ´i·cal [HETERO- + TYPIC(AL)]
heterozygosis (het'эr ou'zai gou´sis, -эr э-) •n. 1 the condition of being a heterozygote 2 the production of a heterozygote by the union of unlike gametes [HETERO- + ModL zygosis < Gr, a joining < zygon, YOKE]
heterozygote (-zai´gout') •n. a plant or animal having two different alleles at a single locus on a chromosome, and hence not breeding true to type for the particular character involved; hybrid het'er·o'zy´gous (-zai´gэs) •adj. [HETERO- + ZYGOTE]
hetman (het´mэn) pl. -mans •n. a Cossack chief or leader; ataman [Pol < Ger hauptmann, a captain, lit., head man < haupt, HEAD + mann, MAN]
heulandite (hyu:´lэn dait') •n. a hydrous silicate of calcium and aluminum, CaAl2Si6O16·5H2O, a variety of zeolite [named (1822) after H. Heuland, Eng mineralogist]
heuristic (hyu: ris´tik) •adj. helping to discover or learn; specif., designating a method of education or of computer programming in which the pupil or machine proceeds along empirical lines, using rules of thumb, to find solutions or answers heu·ris´ti·cal·ly •adv. [< Ger heuristisch < Gr heuriskein, to invent, discover: see EUREKA]
heuristics (-tiks) •n.pl. 1 heuristic methods or procedures 2 [with sing. v.] the art or practice of using heuristic methods or procedures
hew (hyu:) hewed, hewed or hewn, hew´ing •vt. 1 to chop or cut with an ax, knife, etc.; hack; gash 2 to make or shape by or as by cutting or chopping with an ax, etc.: often with out 3 to chop (a tree) with an ax so as to cause it to fall: usually with down •vi. 1 to make cutting or chopping blows with an ax, knife, etc. Æ 2 to conform or adhere (to a line, rule, principle, etc.) hew´er •n. [ME hewen < OE heawan, akin to Ger hauen, OHG houwan < IE base *kāu-, *keu-, to hew, strike > HAY¹, L caudex, codex, cudere] HEW (Department of) Health, Education, and Welfare (1953-79)
hewn (hyu:n) •adj. shaped or cut with an ax, knife, chisel, etc. {hewn stone}
hex sign a round, colorful design, orig. painted on Pennsylvania Dutch barns and thought to ward off evil: now sometimes used for decoration
hex¹ (heks) •n. 1 [Dial.] a witch 2 a) a sign, spell, etc. supposed to bring bad luck b) a jinx •vt. [Dial.] to cause to have bad luck; jinx [PaGer hexe < Ger < OHG hagazussa, akin to OE hagtes: see HAG¹]
hex² (heks) short for HEXAGONAL (sense 1) •adj. •n. short for HEXAGON
hexa- (hek´sэ) combining form six {hexagram} Also, before a vowel, hex- [< Gr hex, SIX]
hexachloroethane (hek'sэ klör'ou eθ´ein') •n. a colorless, crystalline solid with a camphorlike odor, Cl3CCCl3, used in organic synthesis, in the manufacture of smoke-producing materials, explosives, etc., and in treating animals with liver flukes [prec. + CHLORO- + ETHANE]
hexachlorophene (-klör´ou fi:n') •n. a white, odorless powder, (C6HCl3OH)2CH2, used in medicine to destroy, or prevent the growth of, bacteria [< HEXA- + CHLORO- + PHENOL]
hexachord (hek´sэ körd') •n. Medieval Music a diatonic scale of six tones, with a semitone between the third and the fourth [< L hexachordos, having six musical strings or stops < Gr: see HEXA- & CHORD²]
hexad (heks´æd') •n. a series or group of six hex·ad´ic •adj. [LL hexas (gen. hexadis) < Gr hexas (gen. hexados), the number six < hex, SIX]
hexadecimal (hek'sэ des´э mэl) •adj. designating or of a number system in which the base used is 16 [HEXA- + DECIMAL, modeled on Gr hexadeca, sixteen]
hexaemeron (hek'sэ em´эr än') •n. 1 Bible an account of the six-day period of the Creation, esp. that in Genesis 2 a treatise dealing with the Creation Also hex'a·hem´er·on' (-hem´-) the Hexaemeron Bible the six-day period of the Creation [LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) hexaēmeron < Gr hexaēmeros, of or in six days < hex, SIX + hēmera, day]
hexagon (hek´sэ gän') •n. a plane figure with six angles and six sides [L hexagonum < Gr hexagōnon, hexagon, neut. of hexagōnos, six-cornered < hex, SIX + gōnia, a corner, angle: see KNEE]
hexagonal (heks æg´э nэl) •adj. 1 of, or having the form of, a hexagon 2 having a six-sided base or section: said of a solid figure 3 Crystallography of or being a crystal system having three axes of equal length intersecting in one plane at 60° and a fourth axis of different length at 90° to the plane of the other three axes hex·ag´o·nal·ly •adv. [ML hexagonalis]
hexagram (hek´sэ græm') •n. a six-pointed star formed by extending the sides of a regular hexagon, or by placing one equilateral triangle over another so that corresponding sides intersect: see STAR OF DAVID [HEXA- + -GRAM]
hexahedron (hek'sэ hi:´drэn) pl. -drons or -dra (-drэ) •n. a solid figure with six plane surfaces: see POLYHEDRON, illus. hex'a·he´dral •adj. [ModL < Gr hexaedron: see HEXA- & -HEDRON]
hexahydrate (-hai´dreit') •n. a hydrate with a one-to-six ratio of molecules of substance to molecules of water
hexahydric (-hai´drik') •adj. containing six hydroxyl radicals {a hexahydric alcohol}
hexamerous (heks æm´эr эs) •adj. having six parts in each whorl: said of flowers Also written 6-merous [HEXA- + -MEROUS]
hexameter (heks æm´э tэr) •n. 1 a line of verse containing six metrical feet or measures; specif., the six-foot dactylic line of classical verse, the first four feet of which may be either dactyls or spondees, the fifth a dactyl, and the sixth a spondee or trochee 2 verse consisting of hexameters •adj. having six metrical feet or measures hex·a·met·ric (hek'sэ me´trik) •adj. [L hexameter < Gr hexametros: see HEXA- & METER¹]
hexamethylenetetramine (hek'sэ meθ'э li:n'te´trэ mi:n') •n. a crystalline compound, (CH2)6N4, used in medicine for urinary tract infections and in adhesives, organic synthesis, explosives, etc.; methenamine [HEXA- + METHYLENE + TETRA- + (A)MINE]
hexane (heks´ein') •n. any of the five colorless, volatile, liquid isomeric alkanes, C6H14 [HEX(A)- + -ANE]
hexangular (heks æŋ´gyu: lэr) •adj. having six angles [HEX(A)- + ANGULAR]
hexapla (hek´sэ plэ) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] an edition having six versions arranged in parallel columns [H-] Origen's edition of the Old Testament [Gr (ta) hexapla, title of Origen's edition, lit., sixfold, neut. pl. of hexaploos < hex, SIX + base -plo- < IE base *pel-, *plo- > FOLD¹]
hexapod (hek´sэ päd') •n. INSECT (sense 1) •adj. having six legs, as a true insect: also hex·ap´o·dous (-æp´э des) [< Gr hexapous (gen. hexapodos): see HEXA- & -POD]
hexastich (hek´sэ stik') •n. a poem or stanza of six lines [ModL hexastichon < Gr: see HEXA- & STICH]
Hexateuch (hek´sэ tu:k', -tyu:k') the first six books of the Bible [Ger < Gr hex, SIX + teuchos, book, after PENTATEUCH]
hexavalent (hek´sэ vei'lэnt, hek'sэ vei´-) •adj. having a valence of six
hexenbesen (hek´sэn bei'zэn) •n. WITCHES'-BROOM [Ger < hexe (see HEX¹) + besen (see BESOM)]
hexone (heks´oun') •n. methyl isobutyl ketone, a colorless liquid, (CH3)2CHCH2COCH3, used as a solvent for paints, gums, and resins, in organic synthesis, etc. •adj. designating a group of organic bases containing six carbon atoms in each molecule, formed by the hydrolysis of proteins [HEX(A)- + -ONE]
hexosan (hek´sэ sæn') •n. any of a group of polysaccharides, including starch and glycogen, that form hexoses when hydrolyzed [< fol. + -AN]
hexose (heks´ous') •n. any monosaccharide containing six carbon atoms in each molecule, as dextrose or fructose [HEX(A)- + -OSE¹]
hexyl (hek´sil) •n. the monovalent radical C6H13, derived from hexane [HEX(A)- + -YL]
hexylresorcinol (hek'sil ri zör´si nöl', -noul') •n. a pale-yellow, crystalline substance, C12H18O2, used as an antiseptic and germicide, esp. in treating parasitic infections [prec. + RESORCINOL]
hey (hei) •interj. an exclamation used to attract attention, express surprise, etc., or in ending a question or opening a remark [ME hei, echoic formation akin to Ger & Du hei]
heyday (hei´dei') •n. the time of greatest health, vigor, success, prosperity, etc.; prime •interj. [Archaic] an exclamation of surprise, joy, or wonder [earlier heyda prob. < (or akin to) Ger & Dan heida, Du heidaar, hey there!: see HEY] [ME hei dai, full daylight, well on in the day < hei, HIGH + dai, DAY]
Heyrovský (hei´řöf'ski:), Ja·ro·slav (yä´řou släf') 1890-1967; Czech chemist
Hezekiah (hez'i kai´э) Bible a king of Judah in the time of Isaiah: 2 Kings 18-20 [Heb hizqīyāh, lit., God strengthens]
HF high frequency Hf Chem. symbol for hafnium hf 1 half 2 high frequency
HG High German hg hectogram(s) Hg 1 Bible Haggai 2 Chem. symbol for mercury [L hydrargyrum]
HGH human growth hormone: see GROWTH HORMONE
hgt height
HH 1 Her (or His) Highness 2 His Holiness
hhd hogshead
H-hour (eich´aur') •n. ZERO HOUR
HHS (Department of) Health and Human Services
HI Hawaii hi (hai) •interj. an informal exclamation of greeting [ME hy, variant of hei, HEY]
Hialeah (hai'э li:´э) city in SE Fla.: suburb of Miami: pop. 188,000 [< ? Seminole-Creek haiyakpo hili, lit., pretty prairie]
hiatal (or hiatus) hernia a hernia of part of the stomach into the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes
hiatus (hai eit´эs) pl. -tus·es or -tus •n. 1 a break where a part is missing or lost, as in a manuscript; gap in a sequence; lacuna 2 any gap or interruption, as in continuity or time 3 Phonet. a slight pause in pronunciation between two successive vowels in adjacent words or syllables, as between the sounds represented by the successive e's in he entered and reenter hi·a´tal •adj. [L, pp. of hiare, to gape < IE base *Ghē-, Ghēi- > GAP, GASP]
Hiawatha (hai'э wä´θэ) the Indian hero of The Song of Hiawatha, a long narrative poem (1855) by Longfellow: named for an Indian chief thought to have lived in the 16th cent.
hibachi (hi: bä´chi:, hi-) pl. -chis •n. a small, charcoal-burning grill of Japanese design [Jpn < hi, fire + bachi, bowl]
hibakusha (hi: bäk´shä') pl. hi·baku´sha' •n. a survivor of the atomic destruction of Hiroshima or of Nagasaki in 1945 [Jpn, lit., explosion-affected person]
hibernaculum (hai'bэr næk´yu: lэm) pl. -u·la (-lэ) •n. any case or covering for protecting an organism during the winter; specif., a) a bud or bulb for protecting a plant b) a specially modified bud, as in some freshwater bryozoans, that can develop into a colony in the spring c) a structure in which a dormant animal passes the winter [L, winter residence < hibernare: see HIBERNATE]
hibernal (hai bør´nэl) •adj. of or pertaining to winter; wintry [L hibernalis < hibernus: see HIBERNATE]
hibernate (hai´bэr neit') -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vi. to spend the winter in a dormant state: cf. ESTIVATE hi'ber·na´tion •n. hi´ber·na'tor •n. [< L hibernatus, pp. of hibernare, to pass the winter < hibernus, wintry < IE *Gheimerinos < base *Ghei-, winter, snow > L hiems, Gr cheima, Czech zima, winter]
Hibernia (hai bør´ni: э) old poet. name for IRELAND Hi·ber´ni·an •adj., n. [L, altered < Iverna, Juverna < OCelt *Iveriu > OIr Ēriu: see ERIN]
Hibernicism (hai bør´nэ siz'эm) •n. an Irish characteristic, custom, idiom, etc. [< prec. + -IC + -ISM]
hibiscus (hai bis´kэs; also hi-) •n. any of a genus (Hibiscus) of plants, shrubs, and small trees of the mallow family, with large, colorful flowers [ModL < L hibiscus, hibiscum, prob. < Celt]
hic jacet (hik´ jei´sэt') 1 here lies: a tombstone inscription 2 an epitaph [L]
hiccup (hik´ûp', -эp) •n. 1 a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm when it begins to allow air into the lungs only to have the glottis suddenly close, producing an abrupt sound 2 [pl.] a condition characterized by repeated contractions of this kind •vi. -cuped' or -cupped', -cup'ing or -cup'ping to make a hiccup or hiccups •vt. to utter with hiccups Also hic·cough (hi´köf'; hik´ûp', -эp) [altered < Early ModE hikop, hickock, hicket, of echoic orig. (as also in MDu huckup): var. sp. from assoc. with COUGH]
hick (hik) •n. [Colloq.] an awkward, unsophisticated person regarded as typical of rural areas; yokel; hayseed: a contemptuous term •adj. [Colloq.] of or like a hick or hicks [altered < RICHARD]
hickey (hik´i:) pl. -eys or -ies •n. 1 [Colloq.] any device or gadget; doohickey 2 a tool used for bending pipe 3 a coupling for electrical fixtures 4 [Colloq.] a pimple or pustule 5 [Slang] a bruise made on the skin by sucking it, as in lovemaking [orig. U.S. dial.]
Hickok (hik´äk), James Butler 1837-76; U.S. frontier scout & marshal: called Wild Bill Hickok
hickory (hik´э ri:; often hik´ri:) pl. -ries •n. 1 any of a genus (Carya) of North American trees of the walnut family, with compound leaves, solid pith, and hard nuts 2 the hard, tough wood of any of these trees 3 a switch or cane as of this wood 4 the nut of any of these trees: usually hickory nut [contr. < 17th-c. pohickery (Virginian term) < AmInd term recorded by Captain John SMITH as pawcohiccora, product made from crushed kernels of the nut]
hickory horned devil REGAL MOTH
hid (hid) •vt., vi. pt. & alt. pp. of HIDE¹ [ME < OE hydde]
hidalgo (hi dæl´gou'; Sp i: ðäl´gô') pl. -gos' (-gouz'; Sp, -gôs') •n. a Spanish nobleman of secondary rank, below that of a grandee [Sp, contr. < hijo de algo, son of something < hijo, son (< L filius: see FILIAL) + de, of + algo, something, possessions (< L aliquem)] Hidalgo (hi dæl´gou; MexSp i: däl´gô) state of central Mexico: 8,058 sq. mi. (20,870 sq. km); pop. 1,550,000; cap. Pachuca
Hidatsa (hai dät´sä', -sэ) pl. -sas' or -sa' •n. 1 a member of a North American Indian people who live in North Dakota 2 the Siouan language of this people [native name]
hidden (hid´ªn) •vt., vi. alt. pp. of HIDE¹ •adj. concealed; secret [ME, for OE gehydd]
hiddenite (hid´ªn ait') •n. a rare, yellowish to emerald-green variety of spodumene, a semiprecious stone [after W. E. Hidden, U.S. mineralogist who discovered it (1879)]
hide¹ (haid) hid, hid´den or hid, hid´ing •vt. 1 to put or keep out of sight; secrete; conceal 2 to conceal from the knowledge of others; keep secret {to hide one's identity} 3 to keep from being seen by covering up, obscuring, etc. {fog hid the road} 4 to turn away {to hide one's head in shame} •vi. 1 to be or lie out of sight or concealed 2 to keep oneself out of sight; conceal oneself hid´er •n. SYN.—hide, the general word, refers to the putting of something in a place where it will not easily be seen or found [the view is hidden by the billboard]; conceal, a somewhat formal equivalent for hide, more often connotes intent [to conceal one's face, motives, etc.;] secrete and cache suggest a careful hiding in a secret place [they secreted, or cached, the loot in the cellar], but cache now often refers merely to a storing for safekeeping [let's cache our supplies in the cave]; bury implies a covering for, or as if for, concealment [to bury treasure, they were buried in the landslide] see also SKIN —ANT. reveal, expose [ME hiden < OE hydan < IE *(s)keudh- (> Gr keuthein, to hide) < base *(s)keu-, to cover > fol., SKY, L cutis, skin]
hide² (haid) •n. 1 an animal skin or pelt, either raw or tanned 2 [Colloq.] the skin of a person •vt. hid´ed, hid´ing [Colloq.] to beat severely; flog neither hide nor hair nothing whatsoever [ME < OE hid, akin to Ger haut < IE *(s)keut- (> L cutis, skin, Gr kytos, hollow container) < base *(s)keu-: see HIDE1]
hide³ (haid) •n. an old English unit of land measure varying from 60 to 120 acres (24 to 49 hectares) [ME < OE higid < base of hiwan, household (akin to OHG hīwo, a husband, master of a household) < IE *eiwo- (> L civis, citizen) < base *ei-, to lie, camp > HOME, Gr koitos, bed, sleep]
hide-and-seek (haid'ªn si:k´) •n. a children's game in which one player (called it) tries to find the other players, who have hidden Also hide'-and-go-seek´
hideaway (haid´э wei') •n. [Colloq.] a place where one can hide, be secluded, etc.
hidebound (haid´baund') •adj. 1 having the hide tight over the bone and muscle structure of the body, as an emaciated cow 2 obstinately conservative and narrow-minded
hideous (hid´i: эs) •adj. horrible to see, hear, etc.; very ugly or revolting; dreadful hid´e·ous·ly •adv. hid´e·ous·ness •n. [ME hidous < Anglo-Fr < OFr hidos < hide, hisde, fright]
hide-out (haid´aut') •n. [Colloq.] a hiding place, as for gangsters
hiding¹ (haid´iŋ) •n. 1 a) the act of one that hides b) the condition of being hidden: usually in the phrase in hiding 2 a place to hide [ME huydinge]
hiding² (haid´iŋ) •n. [Colloq.] a severe beating; thrashing; flogging [< HIDE²]
hidrosis (hai drou´sis, hi-) pl. -ses •n. 1 perspiration; sweating; esp., excessive sweating 2 any skin condition characterized by excessive sweating [ModL < Gr hidrōsis < hidroun, to perspire < hidrōs, SWEAT]
hidrotic (hai drät´ik, hi-) •adj. 1 having to do with sweat 2 causing sweat; sudorific •n. a sudorific drug [ML hidroticus < Gr hidrōtikos < hidrōs, sweat]
hidy-hole or hidey-hole (hai´di: houl') [Chiefly Brit.] colloq. var. of HIDEAWAY
hie (hai) hied, hie´ing or hy´ing •vi., vt. to hurry or hasten: usually used reflexively [ME hien < OE higian, to strive, hasten < IE base *ēigh-, fast > Russ sigáti, to spring]
hiemal (hai´i mэl) •adj. of winter; wintry [L hiemalis, of winter < hiems: see HIBERNATE]
hier- (hai´эr) combining form HIERO-: used before a vowel
hierarch (hai´эr ärk') •n. the leader or chief of a religious group; high priest [ML hierarcha < Gr hierarchēs, presider over sacred rites, chief priest: see HIERO- & -ARCH]
hierarchal (hai´эr är'kэl) •adj. of a hierarch or hierarchy
hierarchical (hai'эr är´ki kэl) •adj. of a hierarchy: also hi'er·ar´chic hi'er·ar´chi·cal·ly •adv.
hierarchism (hai´эr är'kiz'эm) •n. the principles, practices, or authority of a hierarchy hi´er·ar'chist •n.
hierarchy (hai´эr är'ki:; often hai´rär'-) pl. -chies •n. 1 a system of church government by priests or other clergy in graded ranks 2 the group of officials, esp. the highest officials, in such a system 3 a group of persons or things arranged in order of rank, grade, class, etc. [altered (modeled on Gr) < ME ierarchie < OFr jerarchie < ML(Ec) hierarchia < LGr(Ec), power or rule of a hierarch < Gr hierarchēs: see HIERARCH]
hieratic (hai'эr æt´ik) •adj. 1 of or used by priests; priestly; sacerdotal 2 designating or of the abridged form of cursive hieroglyphic writing once used by Egyptian priests Also hi'er·at´i·cal hi'er·at´i·cal·ly •adv. [L hieraticus < Gr hieratikos, of a priest's office, sacerdotal < hieros, sacred: see HIERO-]
hiero- (hai´эr ou', -эr э) combining form sacred, holy {hierocracy} [< Gr hieros, sacred, holy < IE base *eis-, to move violently, excite > Sans *isnati, (he) sets in motion, L ira, IRE, ON eisa, to rush on]
hierocracy (hai'эr äk´rэ si:) pl. -cies •n. government by priests or other clergy; a hierarchy hi·er·o·crat·ic (hai'эr ou'kræt´ik) or hi'er·o·crat´i·cal •adj. [prec. + -CRACY]
hierodule (hai´эr ou du:l', -dyu:l') •n. in ancient Greece, a temple slave, dedicated to the service of a god [LL hierodulus < Gr hierodoulos < hieros (see HIERO-) + doulos, slave]
hieroglyph (hai´эr ou glif') •n. HIEROGLYPHIC
hieroglyphic (hai'эr ou'glif´ik, -эr э-; often hai'rou-, -rэ-) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, hieroglyphics 2 written in hieroglyphics 3 hard to read or understand Also hi'er·o'glyph´i·cal •n. 1 a picture or symbol representing a word, syllable, or sound, used by the ancient Egyptians and others, instead of alphabetical letters 2 [usually pl.] a method of writing using hieroglyphics; picture writing 3 a symbol, sign, etc. hard to understand 4 [pl.] writing hard to decipher hi'er·o'glyph´i·cal·ly •adv. [Fr hiéroglyphique < LL hieroglyphicus < Gr hieroglyphikos < hieros, sacred (see HIERO-) + glyphein, to carve, hollow out: see GLYPH]
hierology (hai'эr äl´э ji:) pl. -gies •n. the religious lore and literature of a people [HIERO- + -LOGY]
Hieronymus (hai'э rän´э mэs) see JEROME, Saint
hierophant (hai´эr ou fænt') •n. 1 in ancient Greece, a priest of a mystery cult 2 a person confidently expounding, explaining, or promoting something mysterious or obscure as though appointed to do so hi'er·o·phan´tic •adj. [LL hierophanta < Gr hierophantēs < hieros (see HIERO-) + phainein, to show (see FANTASY)]
hifalutin (hai'fэ lu:t´ªn) •adj. HIGHFALUTIN
hi-fi (hai´fai´) •n. 1 HIGH FIDELITY 2 a radio, phonograph, etc. having high fidelity •adj. of or having high fidelity of sound reproduction
Higashiosaka (hi: gä'shi: ou säk´э) city in S Honshu, Japan, east of Osaka: pop. 502,000
Higginson (hig´in sэn), Thomas Went·worth Stor·row (went´wørθ' stär´ou) 1823-1911; U.S. writer & social reformer
higgle (hig´эl) -gled, -gling •vi. HAGGLE hig´gler •n. [prob. weakened form of HAGGLE]
higgledy-piggledy (hig´эl di:' pig´эl di:') •adv. in disorder; in jumbled confusion •adj. disorderly; jumbled; confused [redupl., prob. from PIG]
high (hai) •adj. 1 of more than normal height; lofty; tall: not used of persons 2 extending upward a (specified) distance 3 situated far above the ground or some other level 4 reaching to or done from a height {a high jump, a high dive} 5 a) above other persons or things in rank, position, strength, etc.; most important or powerful b) above other persons or things in quality, character, etc.; superior; exalted; excellent 6 grave; very serious {high treason} 7 greatly advanced or developed; complex: usually in the comparative degree {higher mathematics, the higher vertebrates} 8 main; principal; chief {a high priest} 9 greater in size, amount, degree, power, intensity, etc. than usual {high prices, high voltage} 10 advanced to its acme or fullness; fully reached {high noon} 11 expensive; costly 12 luxurious and extravagant {high living} 13 haughty; overbearing 14 designating or producing tones made by relatively fast vibrations; acute in pitch; sharp; shrill 15 slightly tainted; having a strong smell: said of meat, esp. game 16 extremely formal or rigid in matters of ceremony, doctrine, etc. 17 excited; elated {high spirits} 18 far from the equator {a high latitude} Æ 19 designating or of that gear ratio of a motor vehicle transmission which produces the highest speed and the lowest torque 20 [Slang] a) drunk; intoxicated b) under the influence of a drug 21 Phonet. articulated with the tongue held in a relatively elevated position in the mouth: said of certain vowels, as (i:) in feet •adv. 1 in a high manner 2 in or to a high level, place, degree, rank, etc. •n. 1 a high level, place, etc. Æ 2 an area of high barometric pressure Æ 3 that gear of a motor vehicle, etc. producing the greatest speed and the lowest torque 4 [Slang] a condition of euphoria induced as by drugs high and dry 1 out of the reach of the water 2 alone and helpless; stranded high and low everywhere high and mighty [Colloq.] arrogant; haughty high on [Colloq.] enthusiastic about; very interested in or impressed by Æ high, wide, and handsome [Colloq.] in a carefree, confident manner on high 1 up in space; high above 2 in heaven [ME heigh, hei, hie < OE heah, akin to Ger hoch, Goth hauhs < IE *keuk- < base *keu-, to curve, arch > Sans kakúd-, peak, Russ kúča, heap]
high beam the brighter, long-range setting of a vehicle's headlights
High Church a conservative party of the Anglican Church that retains various practices and much of the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church: cf. LOW CHURCH High´-Church´ •adj. High´-Church´man, pl. -men, •n.
high comedy comedy appealing to, and reflecting the life and problems of, the upper social classes, characterized by a witty, sardonic treatment: cf. LOW COMEDY
high commissioner 1 the head of a commission; specif., the chief representative from one Commonwealth nation to another 2 COMMISSIONER (sense 4)
high day a festival day; holiday [ME hei dai]
high explosive any explosive in which the combustion of the particles is so rapid as to be virtually simultaneous throughout the mass, so that it has great shattering effect
high fidelity in radio, sound recording, etc., an approximately exact reproduction of sound achieved by low distortion and a wide range of reproduced frequencies, from approximately 20 to 20,000 hertz
high frequency any radio frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
High German 1 the West Germanic dialects spoken in central and S Germany: distinguished from LOW GERMAN 2 the official and literary form of the German language, technically called New High German: see also OLD HIGH GERMAN, MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN [calque of Ger hochdeutsch (see HIGH & DEUTSCHLAND): so named because orig. spoken chiefly in the higher regions of Germany]
high hat TOP HAT
High Holidays the period encompassing Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur in the Jewish calendar
high jinks lively pranks; boisterous fun
high jump a track-and-field event in which the contestants jump for height over a horizontal bar set between two upright poles: after each successful trial the bar is raised
high life 1 the way of life of fashionable society; luxurious, extravagant way of life 2 a dance with a strong, syncopated beat, originating in W Africa: also high·life (hai´laif') •n.
high liver one who lives in a luxurious, extravagant way
High Mass old term for a Mass with parts of the text sung by the celebrant rather than recited and often with added ceremony but without a deacon and subdeacon: cf. SOLEMN (HIGH) MASS
high muck-a-muck (hai´ mûk´э mûk') [Slang] a person in a position of importance and authority; esp., one who is overbearing: also high muckamuck
high muckety-muck (mûk´э ti: mûk') [Slang] HIGH MUCK-A-MUCK
high noon 1 exactly noon 2 the highest point or culmination; period of great ability or power 3 [often H- N-] a situation involving a confrontation
high place in early Semitic religions, a place of usually pagan worship, located on a hill or other elevation
High Point city in central N.C.: pop. 69,000: see GREENSBORO [after its location, the highest point on the N.C. Railroad]
high priest a chief priest; specif., the chief priest of the ancient Jewish priesthood [ME heyge prest]
high relief 1 relief in which sculptured figures, etc. project from the background by half or more than half their full natural depth 2 sculpture in high relief
high roller [Slang] 1 a person who gambles for very high stakes 2 a person who spends or invests money freely or recklessly [from rolling the dice in gambling]
high school Æ a secondary school that usually includes grades 10, 11, and 12, and sometimes grade 9 (and occasionally, esp. formerly, grades 7 and 8), and that offers academic or vocational subjects: see also JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL high´-school' •adj.
high seas open ocean waters outside the territorial limits of any single nation
high sign a signal, often a prearranged one, given secretly, as in warning
high table [often H- T-] [Brit.] the table, usually elevated, in the dining hall of a college or school where the head and important teachers and guests are seated
high tea [Brit.] a meal somewhat more elaborate and served later than the usual tea
high tide 1 the highest level to which the tide rises; high water 2 the time when the tide is at this level: see SPRING TIDE 3 any culminating point or time
high time 1 time beyond the proper time but before it is too late; none too soon Æ 2 [Slang] a lively, exciting, enjoyable time: also high old time
high treason treason against the ruler or government
high water 1 HIGH TIDE 2 the highest level reached by any body of water, as a river
high wire a cable or wire stretched high above the ground, on which aerialists perform; tightrope
highball (hai´böl') •n. 1 liquor, usually whiskey or brandy, mixed with water, soda water, ginger ale, etc. and served with ice in a tall glass 2 a railroad signal, originally a ball hung above the tracks, meaning go ahead: sometimes used figuratively •vi. [Slang] to proceed at great speed [< n. 2] [sense 1 < ? prec. + ball, bartender's slang for whiskey glass: infl. ? by the v.]
highbinder (hai´bain'dэr) •n. [Slang] an unscrupulous or swindling person; esp., a demagogic politician [< ?: first recorded use in Highbinders, name of a New York City gang in early 19th c.]
highborn (hai´börn') •adj. of noble birth
highboy (hai´boi') •n. a high chest of drawers mounted on legs [HIGH + BOY]
highbred (hai´bred') •adj. 1 of superior stock or breed 2 showing good breeding; cultivated; refined
highbrow (hai´brau') •n. [Colloq.] a person having or affecting highly cultivated, intellectual tastes; intellectual •adj. [Colloq.] of or for a highbrow Often a pejorative term
high-bush cranberry (hai´bush') CRANBERRY BUSH
highchair (hai´cher') •n. a baby's chair, with long legs and, usually, a tray for food
high-class (hai´klæs´) •adj. of a superior class, rank, quality, etc.
high-compression (hai'kэm presh´эn) •adj. of a modern type of internal-combustion engine designed so that the fuel mixture is compressed into a smaller cylinder space, resulting in more pressure on the pistons and more power
high-energy particle (hai´en´эr ji:) an atomic or subatomic particle with energy greater than 100 MeV
high-energy physics PARTICLE PHYSICS
higher criticism the study of the authorship, dates of writing, meaning, etc. of the books of the Bible, using the techniques or findings of archaeology, literary criticism, comparative religion, etc.
higher education college or university education
higher-up (hai´эr ûp') •n. [Colloq.] a person of higher rank or position
highfalutin or highfaluting (hai´fэ lu:t´ªn) •adj. [Colloq.] ridiculously pretentious or pompous [altered < ? high-floating, with intrusive vowel in ridicule of oratorical speech]
high-five (hai'faiv´) [Colloq.] •n. a slapping of the upraised, open hand of another, as in congratulation or celebration Also high five •vt. -fived´, -fiv´ing to slap the upraised hand of
highflier or highflyer (hai´flai´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that flies high 2 a person who acts, talks, or thinks in an extravagant or extremist manner high´fly´ing •adj.
high-flown (hai´floun´) •adj. 1 extravagantly ambitious or aspiring 2 high-sounding but meaningless; bombastic
high-grade (hai´greid´) •adj. of fine or superior quality
highhanded (hai´hæn´did) •adj. acting or done in an overbearing or arbitrary manner high´hand´ed·ly •adv. high´hand´ed·ness •n.
high-hat (hai´hæt'; for v., usually hai´hæt´) •adj. [Slang] snobbish and aloof •n. 1 [Slang] a snob 2 a pair of opposed cymbals mounted on a metal stand and struck together by a foot-pedal mechanism, used by drummers in jazz, rock, etc. for rhythmic accents •vt. -hat´ted, -hat´ting [Slang] to treat snobbishly; snub
highjack (hai´jæk') •vt. HIJACK
high-keyed (-ki:d´) •adj. emotionally tense; high-strung
highland (hai´lэnd) •n. land well above sea level; region higher than adjacent land and containing many hills or mountains •adj. of, in, or from such a region the Highlands mountainous region occupying nearly all of the N half of Scotland
Highland fling a lively folk dance of the Highlands
Highland Southern old term for the variety of American speech typically associated with speakers in the southern Appalachian area
highlander (-lэn dэr) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of a highland 2 [H-] a) a native or inhabitant of the Highlands b) a soldier of a Highlands regiment
high-level (hai´lev´эl) •adj. 1 of or by persons of high office or rank 2 in a high office or rank 3 designating a computer language, as BASIC or FORTRAN, making use of conventional (as English) words and requiring translation by a compiler or interpreter
highlight (hai´lait') •n. 1 a) a part on which light is brightest {the highlights on the cheeks} b) a part of a painting, photograph, etc. on which light is represented as brightest c) the representation or effect of such light in a painting, photograph, etc. (also high light) 2 the most important, interesting, or outstanding part, scene, etc. •vt. 1 to give a highlight or highlights to 2 to give prominence to; emphasize 3 to mark with a highlighter 4 to be the most outstanding in
highlighter (hai´lait'эr) •n. 1 a pen, usually with a broad felt tip, for marking passages, as in a textbook 2 a cosmetic preparation for adding bright color to the eyes or cheeks
highly (hai´li:) •adv. 1 [Rare] in or to a high place 2 in a high office or rank 3 in or to a high degree; very much; very; extremely 4 with high approval or esteem; favorably 5 at a high level, wage, etc.
high-minded (-main´did) •adj. 1 [Obs.] haughty; proud; arrogant 2 having or showing high ideals, principles, etc. high´-mind´ed·ly •adv. high´-mind´ed·ness •n.
highness (hai´nis) •n. 1 the quality or state of being high; height; loftiness 2 [H-] highest of the nobility: a title used in speaking to or of a member of a royal family and preceded by Your or by His or Her
high-pitched (hai´picht´) •adj. 1 high in pitch; shrill 2 lofty; exalted 3 showing intense feeling; agitated 4 steep in slope: said of roofs
high-powered (hai´pau´эrd) •adj. very powerful
high-pressure (hai´presh´эr) •adj. 1 a) having, using, or withstanding a high or relatively high pressure b) having or indicating a high barometric pressure 2 using or applying forcefully persuasive or insistent methods or arguments {high-pressure sales techniques} Æ -sured, -sur·ing •vt. [Colloq.] to urge or persuade with such methods or arguments