hawking (hök´iŋ) •n. falconry; hunting with hawks
Hawkins (hö´kinz), Coleman 1907-69; U.S. jazz musician
hawk's-beard (höks´bird') •n. any of a genus (Crepis) of plants of the composite family, with milky juice and small, red, orange, or yellow flower heads borne in clusters
hawksbill (turtle) (höks´bil') a medium-sized marine turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata, family Cheloniidae) having a hawklike beak and a horny shell from which tortoise shell is obtained
hawkshaw (hök´shö') •n. [Colloq.] Æ a detective [after a character in The Ticket of Leave Man, a play by Tom Taylor (1817-80),Eng dramatist]
hawkweed (hök´wi:d') •n. any of a genus (Hieracium) of plants of the composite family, usually with conspicuous basal leaves and stalked clusters of heads with yellow or scarlet ray flowers, including devil's paintbrush
Haworth (härθ, hau´эrθ), Sir (Walter) Norman 1883-1950; Brit. organic chemist
hawse (höz, hös) •n. 1 that part of the bow of a ship containing the hawseholes 2 HAWSEHOLE 3 the space between the bow of an anchored vessel and the point on the surface directly above the anchor 4 the arrangement of the anchor cables when a ship is moored with both a starboard and a port anchor [LME halse < ON hals, the neck, part of the bow of a ship: see COLLAR]
hawsehole (-houl) •n. either of the holes in a ship's bow through which a hawser or anchor cable is passed
hawsepipe (-paip') •n. an iron or steel pipe in a hawsehole, through which a hawser or anchor cable is passed
hawser (hö´zэr, -sэr) •n. a large rope used for towing or mooring a ship [ME haucer < Anglo-Fr hauceour < OFr haucier < VL *altiare < L altus, high: see ALTITUDE]
hawser-laid (-leid') •adj. CABLE-LAID
hawthorn (hö´θörn') •n. any of a group of thorny shrubs and small trees (genus Crataegus) of the rose family, with flowers of white, pink, or red, and usually red fruits (haws) resembling miniature cherries [lit., hedge thorn < ME hagethorn < OE hagathorn < haga, hedge, HAW¹ + thorn, akin to Ger hagedorn]
Hawthorne (hö´θörn'), Nathaniel 1804-64; U.S. novelist & short-story writer Hawthorne (hö´θörn') city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 71,000 [after prec.]
Hawthorne effect improvement in performance, as by workers or students, resulting from mere awareness that experimental attempts are being made to bring about improvement [after the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Co. in Cicero, Ill., where studies of worker performance were made in 1927]
Hay (hei), John (Milton) 1838-1905; U.S. statesman & writer: secretary of state (1898-1905)
hay fever an acute inflammation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract, accompanied by sneezing: it is an allergic reaction, caused mainly by the pollen of some grasses and trees; pollenosis
hay¹ (hei) •n. 1 grass, alfalfa, clover, etc. cut and dried for use as fodder 2 [Slang] bed, often, specif., as a place for sexual intercourse Æ 3 [Slang] a small amount, esp. of money {a hundred dollars ain't hay} •vi. to mow grass, alfalfa, etc., and spread it out to dry •vt. [Rare] 1 to furnish with hay 2 to grow grass on (land) for hay Æ hit the hay [Slang] to go to bed to sleep make hay 1 to mow grass, alfalfa, etc., and spread it out to dry 2 to make the most of an opportunity make hay (out) of to turn (something) to one's advantage make hay while the sun shines to make the most of an opportunity [ME hei < OE hieg (akin to Ger heu) < base of OE heawan, to cut: see HEW]
hay² (hei) •n. an old country dance with much winding in and out [OFr haye]
haycock (hei´käk') •n. a small, conical heap of hay drying in a field
Haydn (haid´ªn), (Franz) Jo·seph (you´zef) 1732-1809; Austrian composer
Hayek (hai´эk, hä´yek), Friedrich August von 1899-1992; Brit. economist, born in Austria
Hayes (heiz) 1 Helen (born Helen Hayes Brown) 1900-93; U.S. actress 2 Ruth·er·ford B(irchard) (rûθ´эr fэrd) 1822-93; 19th president of the U.S. (1877-81)
hayfield (hei´fi:ld') •n. a field of grass, alfalfa, etc. to be made into hay
hayfork (-förk') •n. 1 PITCHFORK Æ 2 a mechanically operated device for lifting or moving hay
hayloft (-löft') •n. a loft, or upper story, in a barn or stable, for storing hay
haymaker (-mei'kэr) •n. 1 a person who cuts hay and spreads it out to dry Æ 2 [Slang] a powerful blow with the fist, intended to cause a knockout
Haymarket Square (hei´mär'kit) square in Chicago: site of a battle between police & workmen (Haymarket Riot) on May 4, 1886, following a demonstration for the eight-hour day
haymow (hei´mau') •n. 1 a pile of hay in a barn 2 HAYLOFT
hayrack (hei´ræk') •n. 1 a rack or frame from which cattle, horses, etc. eat hay Æ 2 a) a framework extending up from a wagon, to permit carrying larger quantities of hay b) a wagon having this
hayrick (-rik') •n. a large heap of hay; haystack
hayride (-raid') •n. a pleasure ride in a wagon partly filled with hay, taken by a group on an outing
Hays (heiz), Arthur Garfield 1881-1954; U.S. lawyer & civil libertarian
hayseed (hei´si:d') •n. 1 grass seed shaken from mown hay 2 bits of chaff and straw from hay Æ 3 [Old Slang] an awkward, unsophisticated person regarded as typical of rural areas; yokel: a somewhat contemptuous term
haystack (-stæk') •n. a large heap of hay piled up outdoors
hayward (hei´wörd') •n. [Now Rare] an official in charge of fences or hedges around public pastures, who impounds stray cattle [ME heiward < hei, hedge (< OE hege, akin to haga, HAW¹ & < OFr haie < Frank *hagja, cognate with OE hege) + ward, a guardian: see WARD] Hayward (hei´wэrd) city in W Calif.: suburb of Oakland: pop. 111,000 [after W. Hayward, local postmaster]
haywire (hei´wair') •n. wire for tying up bales of hay, straw, etc. •adj. [Colloq.] 1 out of order; disorganized; confused 2 crazy go haywire [Colloq.] 1 to behave or perform erratically 2 to become crazy [prob. < haywire outfit, loggers' term for a camp with poor equipment that had to be held together with haywire]
hazan (hä´zэn; Heb khä zän´) pl. ha·zans or ha·za·nim (hä'zэ ni:m´, -nim´; Heb khä zä ni:m´) a cantor in a synagogue Also sp. haz´zan •n. [Yidd khazn < Talmudic Heb chazan]
hazard (hæz´эrd) •n. 1 an early game of chance played with dice, from which craps is derived 2 chance, or a chance occurrence 3 a) risk; peril; danger; jeopardy b) [Archaic] something risked 4 an obstacle on a golf course, such as a trap, bunker, or pond 5 Court Tennis any of the three openings on the side (hazard side) of the court in which service is received: see WINNING OPENING •vt. 1 to expose to danger; chance; risk 2 to attempt or venture {to hazard a try} SYN. DANGER [ME < OFr hasard, game of dice, adventure < ? Ar az-zahr, for Egypt colloq. Ar al-zahr, dice]
hazardous (hæz´эr dэs) •adj. 1 of or involving chance 2 risky; dangerous; perilous haz´ard·ous·ly •adv.
haze¹ (heiz) •n. 1 a dispersion of fine sand, smoke, dust, etc. in the air that reduces visibility 2 a slight confusion or vagueness of mind •vi., vt. hazed, haz´ing to make or become hazy: often with over SYN. MIST [prob. back-form. < HAZY]
haze² (heiz) hazed, haz´ing •vt. 1 Naut. to punish or harass by forcing to do hard, unnecessary work Æ 2 to initiate or discipline (fellow students) by forcing to do ridiculous, humiliating, or painful things Æ 3 [West] to drive (horses or cattle) while on horseback [< ? OFr haser, to irritate, annoy]
hazel (hei´zэl) •n. 1 any of a genus (Corylus) of shrubs or trees of the birch family, bearing edible nuts 2 HAZELNUT 3 a) the wood of this tree or shrub b) a stick of this wood 4 the color of a ripened hazelnut; reddish brown •adj. 1 of the hazel tree or its wood 2 light reddish-brown or yellowish-brown: hazel eyes are usually flecked with green or gray ha´zel·ly •adj. [ME hasel < OE hæsel, akin to Ger hasel < IE *kos(e)lo-, hazel > L corulus, hazel bush, OIr coll, hazel] Hazel (hei´zэl) a feminine name Etymology [Heb Hazā'el, lit., God sees]
hazelhen (-hэn') •n. a European woodland grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) similar to the ruffed grouse Also called hazel grouse
hazelnut (hei´zэl nût') •n. FILBERT
Hazlitt (hæz´lit), William 1778-1830; Eng. essayist
hazy (hei´zi:) -zi·er, -zi·est •adj. 1 characterized by the presence of haze; somewhat foggy, misty, or smoky 2 somewhat vague, obscure, confused, or indefinite {hazy thinking} ha´zi·ly •adv. ha´zi·ness •n. [prob. < or akin to OE hasu, haswig, gray, dusky (akin to MHG heswe, pale): cf. HARE]
Hb 1 Bible Habakkuk 2 hemoglobin HB Football halfback Also hb
HBM Her (or His) Britannic Majesty
H-bomb (eich´bäm') •n. HYDROGEN BOMB
HBP Baseball hit by pitcher
HC House of Commons Also H of C
hcf highest common factor
HCG a placental hormone that stimulates the ovaries to produce other hormones that prevent menstruation: its presence in the urine indicates pregnancy, and it is used as a fertility drug [h(uman) c(horionic) g(onadotropin)]
hd head
hdbk handbook
HDL a lipoprotein that helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream and that is believed to reduce the risk of heart disease: cf. LDL [h(igh-)d(ensity) l(ipoprotein)]
hdqrs headquarters
hds 1 heads 2 hundreds
He Chem. symbol for helium HE 1 high explosive 2 Her (or His) Excellency 3 His Eminence
he- (hi:) combining form male: used in hyphenated compounds {he-dog}
he¹ (hi:; unstressed i:, hi, i) pron. 1 the man, boy, or male animal (or, sometimes, the object regarded as male) previously mentioned 2 the person; the one; anyone {he who laughs last laughs best} He is the nominative case form, him the objective, his the possessive, and himself the intensive and reflexive, of the masculine third personal pronoun •n. pl. hes a man, boy, or male animal [OE (where it contrasts with heo, she, hie, they < same base) < IE *ko-, kē-, this one > HERE, HITHER, L cis, on this side: orig. a demonstrative]
he² (hei) name of the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ה) •n. [Heb, lit., window]
head (hed) •n. 1 a) the top part of the body in humans, the apes, etc., or the front part in most other animals: in higher animals it is a bony structure containing the brain, and including the jaws, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth b) this part exclusive of the face 2 a) the head as the seat of reason, memory, and imagination; mind; intelligence {to use one's head} b) aptitude; ability {to have a head for mathematics} c) [Colloq.] a headache, esp. as part of a hangover 3 the head as a symbol for the individual; person {dinner at five dollars a head} 4 pl. head the head as a unit of counting {fifty head of cattle} 5 a representation of a head, as in painting or sculpture 6 the obverse of a coin, usually with such a representation: often heads 7 the highest or uppermost part or thing; top; specif., a) the top of a page, column of figures, etc. b) a printed title at the top of a page, section of writing, etc. c) a chief point of discussion; topic of a section, chapter, etc. in a speech or written work d) a headline for a newspaper story e) froth floating on newly poured effervescent beverages, esp. on beer f) that end of a cask or barrel which is uppermost at any time g) the upper edge or corner of a sail 8 the foremost part of a thing; front; specif., a) a part associated with the human head {the head of a bed} b) the end of a pier farthest from land c) the front part of a ship; bow d) Naut. a toilet, or lavatory e) the front position, as of a column of marchers f) either end of something; extremity 9 the projecting part of something; specif., a) the part designed for holding, pushing, striking, etc. {the head of a pin, the head of a golf club} b) a jutting mass of rock, land, etc. as of a mountain c) a point of land; promontory; headland d) a projecting place in a boil or other inflammation where pus is about to break through e) the part of a tape recorder that records or plays back the magnetic signals on the tape f) WARHEAD 10 the membrane stretched across the end of a drum, tambourine, etc. 11 the source of a flowing body of water; beginning of a stream, river, etc. 12 a) a source of water kept at some height to supply a mill, etc. b) the height of such a source of water or the vertical distance through which it falls c) a rush of water, as in a riptide 13 the pressure in an enclosed fluid, as steam, from its own weight or applied externally 14 a position of leadership, honor, or first importance {the head of the class} 15 the person who is foremost or in charge; leader, ruler, chief, director, etc. 16 a headmaster 17 Bot. a) a dense cluster of tiny sessile flowers attached to a common receptacle, as in the composite family b) a large, compact bud {a head of cabbage} c) the uppermost part of a plant's foliage {the head of a tree} 18 Linguis. any word or word group in a construction that functions grammatically like the entire construction {woman is the head of the woman who wrote that book} 19 Mining HEADING (sense 4) 20 Music the rounded part of a note, at the end of the stem Æ 21 [Colloq.] a habitual user of marijuana, cocaine, etc.: often in combination {acidhead} •adj. 1 of or having to do with the head 2 most important; principal; commanding; first 3 to be found at the top or front 4 striking against the front {head winds} •vt. 1 to be the chief of or in charge of; command; direct 2 a) to be at the top or beginning of; lead; precede (often with up) {to head a list} b) to take a lead over, as in a race or competition 3 to supply (a pin, etc.) with a head 4 [Rare] to behead; decapitate 5 to trim the higher part from (a tree or plant); poll Æ 6 to go around the head of {to head a stream} 7 to turn or cause to go in a specified direction {to head a car for home} 8 Soccer to hit (the ball) with one's head •vi. 1 to grow or come to a head 2 to set out; travel {to head eastward} Æ 3 to originate, as a river by a head by the length of the animal's head, as in horse racing by (or down by) the head Naut. with the bow deeper in the water than the stern come to a head 1 to be about to suppurate, as a boil 2 to culminate, or reach a crisis get it through one's (or someone's) head to understand (or cause someone to understand) something give (someone) head [Vulgar Slang] to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on (someone) go to one's head 1 to confuse, excite, or intoxicate one 2 to make one vain or overconfident hang (or hide) one's head to lower one's head or conceal one's face in or as in shame head and shoulders above definitely superior to Æ head for 1 to direct one's way toward {she headed for home} 2 to be destined for {he's heading for trouble} head off to get ahead of and cause to stop or turn away; intercept head over heels 1 tumbling as if in a somersault 2 deeply; completely 3 hurriedly; impetuously; recklessly heads up! [Colloq.] look out! be careful! keep one's head to keep one's poise, self-control, etc.; not become excited or flustered keep one's head above water 1 to remain afloat; not sink 2 to keep oneself alive, out of debt, etc. lose one's head to lose one's poise, self-control, etc.; become excited or flustered make head to make headway; go forward; advance make head or tail of to understand: usually in the negative on (or upon) one's head as one's burden, responsibility, or misfortune one's head off a great deal: preceded by a verb {to talk one's head off} out of (or off) one's head [Colloq.] 1 crazy 2 delirious; raving over one's head 1 a) too difficult for one to understand b) so that one cannot understand 2 in spite of one's prior claim 3 without consulting one; to a higher authority put (or lay) heads together to consult or scheme together take it into one's head to conceive the notion, plan, or intention turn one's head 1 to make one dizzy 2 to make one vain or overconfident [ME hede, heved < OE heafod, akin to Ger haupt (OHG houbit, Goth haubith) < IE base *kaput- (orig. prob. cup-shaped) > L caput: merged in Gmc with word akin to OHG hūba, a cap, crest (Ger haube) < IE base *keu-, to bend, curve]
-head (hed) suffix -HOOD {godhead}
head cold a common cold characterized chiefly by congestion of the nasal passages
head count [Colloq.] 1 the act of counting the people in a certain category 2 the number of people so counted Also head´count' •n.
head doctor [Slang] a psychiatrist
head gate a gate that controls the flow of water into a canal lock, sluice, etc.
head lettuce lettuce with the leaves formed into a round, compact head
head register the upper register of the voice, in which the higher range of tones is produced
head shop [Colloq.] a shop selling drug paraphernalia [see HEAD, n. 21]
head start an early start or other advantage given to or taken by a contestant or competitor
head tone any of the tones produced in the head register
head trip [Slang] an exhilarating intellectual experience
head wind a wind blowing in the direction directly opposite the course of a ship or aircraft
headache (hed´eik') •n. 1 a continuous pain in the head Æ 2 [Colloq.] a cause of worry, annoyance, or trouble [ME hevedeche < OE heafodece]
headband (hed´bænd') •n. 1 a band worn around the head Æ 2 an ornamental printed band at the top of a page or the beginning of a chapter 3 Bookbinding a cloth band fastened under a book's spine at top and bottom
headboard (-börd') •n. a board or frame that forms the head of a bed, etc.
headcheese (hed´chi:z') •n. a loaf of jellied, seasoned meat, made from parts of the head and feet of hogs
headdress (hed´dres') •n. 1 a covering or decoration for the head 2 a style of arranging the hair; coiffure
headed (hed´id) •adj. 1 formed into a head, as cabbage 2 having a heading
-headed (-id) combining form 1 having a (specified kind of) head {clearheaded} 2 having (a specified number of) heads {two-headed}
header (hed´эr) •n. 1 a person or device that puts heads on pins, nails, rivets, etc. Æ 2 a machine that takes off the heads of grain and sends them up an inclined plane into a wagon 3 a pipe, tube, etc. that brings together other pipes to direct the flow of a fluid through them, as in an exhaust system 4 [Colloq.] a headlong fall or dive 5 Carpentry a wooden beam, as in flooring, placed between two long beams with the ends of short beams resting against it 6 Masonry a brick or building stone laid across the thickness of a wall so that a short end is exposed in the face of the wall
headfirst (hed´først´) •adv. 1 with the head in front; headlong 2 in a reckless way; rashly; impetuously Also head´fore´most' (-för´moust')
headfish (hed´fish') pl. -fish •n. OCEAN SUNFISH
headgear (hed´gir') •n. 1 a covering for the head; hat, cap, headdress, etc. 2 the harness for the head of a horse
headhunter (hed´hûnt'эr) •n. 1 a member of any of certain primitive tribes who remove the heads of slain enemies and preserve them as trophies Æ 2 [Slang] an agent or agency specializing in the recruitment of executive or highly skilled personnel head´hunt'ing •n.
headily (hed´ªl i:) •adv. in a heady manner
headiness (hed´i: nis) •n. the quality or condition of being heady
heading (hed´iŋ) •n. 1 something forming or used to form the head, top, edge, or front; specif., an inscription at the top of a paragraph, chapter, page, section, etc., giving the title or topic 2 a division of a subject; topic or category 3 the horizontal direction in which a moving ship, plane, etc. is pointed, usually expressed as a compass reading in degrees 4 Mining a) a drift; gallery b) the end of a gallery
headlamp (hed´læmp') •n. HEADLIGHT
headland (hed´lænd' for 1; for 2 usually, -lэnd) •n. 1 the unbroken soil at the edge of a plowed field, esp. at the ends of the furrows 2 a cape or point of land reaching out into the water; esp., a promontory [ME hedelonde < OE heafod lond]
headless (hed´lis) •adj. 1 without a head; specif., a) organically without a head; acephalous b) beheaded 2 without a leader or director 3 stupid; foolish; brainless [ME hevedles < OE heafodleas]
headlight (hed´lait') •n. a light with a reflector and lens, at the front of a locomotive, automobile, etc.
headline (hed´lain') •n. 1 a line at the top of a page in a book, giving the running title, page number, etc. Æ 2 a line or lines, usually in larger type, at the top of a newspaper article, giving a short statement of its contents 3 an important item of news Æ -lined', -lin'ing •vt. 1 to provide (a news article) with a headline 2 to give (a performer or performance) featured billing or publicity
headliner (hed´lain'эr) •n. an actor or entertainer advertised as a leading attraction
headlock (hed´läk') •n. Wrestling a hold in which one contestant's head is locked between the arm and the body of the other
headlong (hed´löŋ') •adv. 1 with the head first; headfirst 2 with uncontrolled speed and force 3 recklessly; rashly; impetuously •adj. 1 [Old Poet.] steep; dizzy; precipitous {a headlong height} 2 having the head first 3 moving with uncontrolled speed and force 4 reckless; impetuous [LME hedlong, altered (by assoc. with ALONG) < ME hedelinge(s) < hede, head + -linge, adv. suffix]
headman (hed´mэn, -mæn') pl. -men (-mэn, -men') •n. 1 a leader, chief, or overseer 2 [Rare] a headsman [ME hevidmon < OE heafodmann]
headmaster (hed´mæs'tэr) •n. in certain schools, esp. private schools for boys, the man in charge of the school; principal head´mas'ter·ship' •n.
headmistress (-mis'tris) •n. in certain schools, esp. private schools for girls, the woman in charge of the school; principal
headmost (hed´moust') •adj. in the lead; foremost
headnote (hed´nout') •n. a brief explanatory note prefacing a chapter, poem, story, legal report, etc.
head-on (hed´än´) •adj., adv. 1 with the head or front foremost {a head-on collision} 2 directly; esp., in direct opposition {to meet a problem head-on}
headphone (hed´foun') •n. [often pl.] a listening device that is connected to a communication system, stereo, etc., worn over the head to position its tiny speakers over the ears
headpiece (hed´pi:s') •n. 1 a covering for the head, esp. a protective covering; helmet 2 the head; mind; intellect 3 Printing an ornamental design at the beginning of a chapter or top of a page
headpin (-pin') •n. the pin at the front of a triangle of bowling pins
headquarters (hed´kwört'эrz) •n.pl. [often with sing. v.] 1 the main office, or center of operations and control, of anyone in command, as in an army or police force 2 the main office or center of control in any organization head´quar'ter •vt.
headrace (hed´reis') •n. the channel or race furnishing water as to a mill wheel: opposed to TAILRACE
headrest (hed´rest') •n. a support for the head, as on a dentist's chair, automobile seat, etc.
headroom (hed´ru:m') •n. space or clearance overhead, as in a doorway, tunnel, etc.
headsail (hed´seil'; naut., -sэl) •n. any sail forward of the mast or foremast
headset (hed´set') •n. a headphone, often with a small microphone attached for two-way communication
headship (hed´ship') •n. the position or authority of a chief or leader; leadership; command
headshrinker (-shriŋk'эr) •n. 1 a headhunter who shrinks the heads of his victims Æ 2 [Slang] a psychiatrist
headsman (hedz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. an executioner who beheads those condemned to die [ME heddysman < heddys, hefdes (gen. of hede, heved, HEAD) + MAN]
headspring (hed´spriŋ') •n. a fountain, origin, or source [ME hedspring: see HEAD & SPRING]
headstall (-stöl') •n. the part of a bridle or halter that fits over a horse's head [see HEAD & STALL¹]
headstand (-stænd') •n. the act of supporting oneself upright on the head, usually with the help of the hands
headstock (hed´stäk') •n. a bearing or support for a revolving or moving part of a machine; specif., the part of a lathe supporting the spindle
headstone (-stoun') •n. 1 [Rare] a cornerstone 2 a stone marker placed at the head of a grave
headstream (-stri:m') •n. a stream forming the source of another and larger stream or river
headstrong (-ströŋ') •adj. 1 determined not to follow orders, advice, etc. but to do as one pleases; self-willed 2 showing such determination {headstrong desire} [ME heedstronge: see HEAD & STRONG]
heads-up (hedz´ûp´) •adj. [Colloq.] alert and resourceful {playing heads-up baseball} [see phr. heads up under HEAD]
head-to-head (hed´tu: hed´) •adj. Æ in direct confrontation; directly opposed {a head-to-head contest}
head-up display (hed´ûp´) an aircraft system projecting critical flight and targeting information on the cockpit windshield to give the pilot a simultaneous view of the data and of the sky, enemy aircraft, etc.
headwaiter (hed´weit'эr) •n. a supervisor of waiters and waitresses, often in charge of table reservations
headwaters (hed´wöt'эrz) •n.pl. the headstreams and the beginning of a large stream or river
headway (hed´wei') •n. 1 forward motion 2 progress or success in work, etc. 3 HEADROOM Æ 4 the difference in time or distance between two trains, ships, etc. traveling in the same direction over the same course
headword (hed´wørd') •n. 1 a word or phrase that is a heading for a paragraph, chapter, etc. 2 Linguis. a word functioning as a head in a structure
headwork (hed´wørk') •n. mental effort; thought
heady (hed´i:) head´i·er, head´i·est •adj. 1 impetuous; rash; willful 2 tending to affect the senses; intoxicating {heady wine} [ME hevedi: see HEAD & -Y³]
heal (hi:l) •vt. 1 to make sound, well, or healthy again; restore to health {heal the sick} 2 a) to cure or get rid of (a disease) b) to cause (a wound, sore, etc.) to become closed or scarred so as to restore a healthy condition 3 to free from grief, troubles, evil, etc. 4 a) to remedy or get rid of (grief, troubles, etc.) b) to make up (a breach, differences, etc.); reconcile •vi. 1 to become well or healthy again; be cured 2 to become closed or scarred: said of a wound SYN. CURE [ME helen < OE hælan (akin to Ger heilen) < base of hal, sound, healthy: see HALE¹, WHOLE]
healer (hi:l´эr) •n. a person or thing that heals; specif., one who tries to heal through prayer or faith [ME helere]
health (helθ) •n. 1 physical and mental well-being; freedom from disease, pain, or defect; normalcy of physical and mental functions; soundness 2 condition of body or mind {good or bad health} 3 a wish for a person's health and happiness, as in drinking a toast 4 soundness or vitality, as of a society or culture [ME helthe < OE hælth < base of hal, sound, healthy (see HALE¹, WHOLE) + -TH¹]
health club a private club for physical exercise, with rooms for weight lifting, massage, etc., courts for handball, racquetball, etc., and, often, a swimming pool, sauna, etc.
health farm a place, especially in the country, where people go for a healthful regimen of regular exercise, special diets, etc.
health food food considered to be especially healthful; often, specif., such food when organically grown and free of chemical additives
health maintenance organization a health care system, operating within a specific geographical area, in which an organization hires medical professionals to provide a wide range of specified medical services for their prepaid subscribers
health physics a discipline dealing with protection against the potential hazards of harmful radiations in the environment health physicist
health spa a commercial establishment with facilities for physical exercise, and often, a swimming pool, sauna, etc.
healthful (helθ´fэl) •adj. 1 helping to produce, promote, or maintain health; salutary; wholesome 2 [Rare] HEALTHY health´ful·ly •adv. health´ful·ness •n.
healthy (hel´θi:) health´i·er, health´i·est •adj. 1 having good health; well; sound 2 showing or resulting from good health {a healthy color} 3 HEALTHFUL 4 [Colloq.] large, vigorous, etc. {a healthy yell} health´i·ly •adv. health´i·ness •n.
heap (hi:p) •n. 1 a pile, mass, or mound of things jumbled together 2 [often pl.] [Colloq.] a great number or amount {a heap of toys, heaps of money} Æ 3 [Slang] an automobile, esp. an old, dilapidated one •vt. 1 to make a heap of; bring together into a pile 2 to give or supply in large amounts; load {to heap gifts upon someone} 3 to fill (a plate, dry measure, etc.) full or to overflowing •vi. to accumulate or rise in a heap, or pile [ME hepe, a troop, heap < OE heap, a troop, band, multitude, akin to Ger hauf(en), Du hoop < IE *keub- < base *keu-, bend, arch > HOP¹, HIVE]
hear (hir) heard (hørd), hear´ing •vt. 1 to perceive or sense (sounds), esp. through stimulation of auditory nerves in the ear by sound waves 2 to listen to and consider; specif., a) to take notice of; pay attention to {hear what I tell you} b) to listen to officially; give a formal hearing to {to hear a child's lessons} c) to conduct an examination or hearing of (a law case, etc.); try d) to consent to; grant {hear my plea} e) to understand {I hear you} f) to be a member of the audience at (an opera, lecture, etc.) 3 to be informed of; be told; learn {to hear a rumor} •vi. 1 to have a normally functioning ear or ears; be able to hear sounds 2 to listen 3 to be told or informed (of or about) hear from 1 to get a letter, telegram, etc. from 2 to get a criticism or reprimand from hear! hear! well said!: an expression of approval or agreement hear out to listen to until the end hear tell [Dial.] to be told; learn not hear of to forbid or refuse to consider hear´er •n. [ME heren < OE hieran, akin to Ger hören (Goth hausjan) < IE base *keu-, to notice, observe > L cavere, be on one's guard, Gr koein, to perceive, hear]
hearing (hir´iŋ) •n. 1 the act or process of perceiving sounds 2 the sense by which sounds are perceived 3 an opportunity to speak, sing, etc.; chance to be heard 4 a) a court appearance before a judge or court referee, other than an actual formal trial b) a formal meeting, as of an investigative body or legislative committee, before which evidence is presented, testimony is given, etc. 5 the distance that a sound, esp. that of the unaided voice, will carry {to be within hearing} [ME heringe: see HEAR]
hearing aid a small, battery-powered electronic device worn to compensate for hearing loss
hearken (härk´эn) •vi. to give careful attention; listen carefully •vt. [Archaic] to heed; hear [ME herknien < OE heorknian, hyrcnian < base of hieran: see HEAR]
Hearn (hørn), Laf·cad·i·o (læf kæd´i: ou) (born Patricio Lafcadio Tessima Carlos Hearn; Jpn. name Yakumo Koizumi) 1850-1904; U.S. writer, born in Greece: became a citizen of Japan (c. 1890)
hearsay (hir´sei') •n. something one has heard but does not know to be true; rumor; gossip •adj. based on hearsay [< phrase to hear say, parallel to Ger hörensagen]
hearsay evidence Law evidence given by a witness consisting of a report of something which someone else has said, rather than a statement of something which the witness has actually seen or experienced
hearse (hørs) •n. 1 an automobile or carriage, used in a funeral for carrying the corpse 2 a) a framelike structure above a coffin or tomb, for candles, hangings, etc. b) a triangular framework to hold candles at Tenebrae 3 [Archaic] a bier or coffin [ME herce < OFr, a harrow, grated portcullis < L hirpex, a large rake with iron teeth < dial (Sabine) irpus, wolf (hence, lit., wolf-tooth device)]
Hearst (hørst), William Randolph 1863-1951; U.S. newspaper & magazine publisher
heart (härt) •n. 1 a) the hollow, muscular organ in a vertebrate animal that receives blood from the veins and pumps it through the arteries by alternate dilation and contraction b) an analogous part in most invertebrate animals 2 the part of the human body thought of as containing the heart; breast; bosom 3 any place or part like a heart, in that it is near the center; specif., a) the central core of a plant or vegetable {hearts of celery} b) the center or innermost part of a place or region {the heart of a city} 4 the central, vital, or main part; real meaning; essence; core 5 the human heart considered as the center or source of emotions, personality attributes, etc.; specif., a) inmost thought and feeling; consciousness or conscience {to know in one's heart} b) the source of emotions (contrasted with HEAD, n. 2a, the source of intellect) c) one's emotional nature; disposition {to have a kind heart} d) any of various humane feelings; love, devotion, sympathy, etc. e) mood; feeling {to have a heavy heart} f) spirit, resolution, or courage {to lose heart} 6 a person, usually one loved or admired in some specified way {he is a valiant heart} 7 something like a heart in shape; conventionalized design or representation of a heart, shaped like this: ♥ 8 a) any of a suit of playing cards marked with such figures in red b) [pl., with sing. or pl. v.] this suit of cards Æ c) [pl., with sing. v.] a card game in which the object is either to avoid winning any hearts or the queen of spades, or to win all the hearts and the queen of spades •vt. [Rare] to hearten, or encourage after one's own heart that suits or pleases one perfectly at heart in one's innermost or hidden nature; secretly or fundamentally break one's heart to cause one to be overcome with grief or disappointment by heart by or from memorization Æ change of heart a change of mind, affections, loyalties, etc. do one's heart good to make one happy; please one eat one's heart out to brood or feel keenly unhappy over some frustration or in regret from (the bottom of) one's heart very sincerely or deeply Æ have a heart to be kind, sympathetic, generous, etc. have one's heart in one's mouth (or boots) to be full of fear or nervous anticipation have one's heart in the right place to be well-intentioned or well-meaning heart and soul with all one's effort, enthusiasm, etc. in one's heart of hearts in one's innermost nature or deepest feelings; fundamentally lose one's heart (to) to fall in love (with) near one's heart dear or important to one set one's heart at rest to set aside one's doubts, fears, or worries set one's heart on to have a fixed desire for; long for steal one's heart to cause one to feel love or affection take heart to have more courage or confidence; cheer up take to heart 1 to consider seriously 2 to be troubled or grieved by to one's heart's content as much as one desires wear one's heart on one's sleeve to behave so that one's feelings or affections are plainly evident with all one's heart 1 with complete sincerity, devotion, etc. 2 very willingly; with pleasure with half a heart halfheartedly [ME herte < OE heorte, akin to Ger herz < IE base *erd-, rd-, heart > L cor, (gen. cordis), Gr kardia, OIr cride, Serb srce]
heart attack any sudden instance of the blood supply to the heart muscle itself becoming inadequate, resulting in heart muscle damage; esp., CORONARY THROMBOSIS
heart block a disorder in which there is defective transmission of impulses regulating the heartbeat, resulting in independent contractions of the atria and ventricles
heart cherry any of several heart-shaped and soft-fleshed varieties of sweet cherry
heart failure the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to maintain an adequate flow to and from the body tissues
heart urchin any of an order (Spatangoida) of echinoid echinoderms with an elongated, somewhat heart-shaped shell
heartache (härt´eik') •n. sorrow or grief; mental anguish [OE heortece: see HEART & ACHE]
heartbeat (härt´bi:t') •n. one pulsation, or full contraction and dilation, of the heart; heartthrob
heartbreak (härt´breik') •n. overwhelming sorrow, grief, or disappointment heart´break'ing •adj.
heartbroken (härt´brou'kэn) •adj. overwhelmed with sorrow, grief, or disappointment
heartburn (härt´børn') •n. a burning sensation beneath the breastbone resulting from a spastic reflux of stomach acid, food, etc. into the esophagus; pyrosis; brash
-hearted (härt´id) combining form having a (specified kind of) heart {stouthearted} [ME]
hearten (härt´ªn) •vt. to cheer up; encourage [HEART + -EN]
heartfelt (härt´felt') •adj. with or expressive of deep feeling; sincere [HEART + pp. of FEEL]
heart-free (härt´fri:') •adj. not in love
hearth (härθ) •n. 1 the stone or brick floor of a fireplace, often extending out into the room 2 a) the fireside as the center of family life b) family life; home 3 the part of a brick oven, or of a blacksmith's forge, on which the fire rests 4 Metallurgy a) the lowest part of a blast furnace, on which the molten metal and slag are deposited b) the floor of a furnace on which the ore or metal rests for exposure to the flame [ME herth < OE heorth, akin to Ger herd < IE base *ker-, to burn, glow > L carbo, coal, Lith kárštas, hot]
hearthside (-said') •n. FIRESIDE
hearthstone (-stoun') •n. 1 the stone forming a hearth 2 the home, or home life 3 a soft stone or powdered composition used for scouring a hearth or steps
heartily (härt´ªl i:) •adv. 1 in a friendly, sincere, cordial way 2 with zest, enthusiasm, or vigor 3 with a good appetite and in large amounts {to eat heartily} 4 completely; fully; very {heartily sorry} [ME hertili: see HEART & -LY²]
heartiness (härt´i: nis) •n. a hearty quality or state
heartland (härt´lænd') •n. a geographically central area having crucial economic, political, or strategic importance
heartless (härt´lis) •adj. 1 [Archaic] lacking spirit, courage, or enthusiasm 2 lacking kindness or feeling; hard and pitiless: now the usual sense heart´less·ly •adv. heart´less·ness •n. [ME herteles < OE heortleas]
heart-rending (härt´ren'diŋ) •adj. causing much grief or mental anguish heart´-rend'ing·ly •adv.
heartsease or heart's-ease (härts´i:z') •n. 1 peace of mind; calmness of emotion 2 WILD PANSY: so called because formerly believed to cure the discomforts of love [see HEART & EASE]
heartsick (härt´sik') •adj. sick at heart; extremely unhappy or despondent Also heart´sore' (-sör')
heartsome (härt´sэm) •adj. [Scot.] 1 heartening; cheering 2 cheerful; lively [HEART + -SOME¹]
heart-stricken (härt´strik'эn) •adj. deeply grieved or greatly dismayed Also heart´-struck' (-strûk')
heartstrings (härt´striŋz') •n.pl. deepest feelings or affections [orig. tendons or nerves formerly believed to brace and sustain the heart]
heartthrob (-θräb') •n. 1 the heartbeat Æ 2 [Slang] a) tender or mawkish emotion (usually used in pl.) b) a sweetheart
heart-to-heart (härt´ tu: härt´) •adj. intimate and candid Æ n. [Colloq.] an intimate conversation
heartwarming (härt´wörm'iŋ) •adj. such as to kindle a warm glow of genial feelings
heart-whole (härt´houl') •adj. 1 not in love; heart-free 2 sincere; wholehearted 3 undismayed; courageous
heartwood (härt´wud') •n. the hard, nonliving, older wood at the core of a tree trunk, usually dark in color and impervious to air and water; duramen: cf. SAPWOOD
heartworm (härt´wørm') •n. a nematode worm (Dirofilaria immitis) transmitted by mosquitoes or fleas that is parasitic in the bloodstream, esp. in the heart, of dogs, cats, etc.
hearty (härt´i:) heart´i·er, heart´i·est •adj. 1 extremely warm and friendly; most genial or cordial {a hearty welcome} 2 enthusiastic; wholehearted {hearty cooperation} 3 strongly felt or expressed; unrestrained {a hearty dislike, hearty laughter} 4 strong and healthy {a hearty young farmer} 5 a) satisfying, nourishing, and plentiful {a hearty meal} b) needing or liking plenty of food {a hearty eater} •n. pl. heart´ies [Archaic] a friend; comrade; esp., a fellow sailor: usually preceded by my [ME herti: see HEART & -Y³]
heat (hi:t) •n. 1 the quality of being hot; hotness: in physics, heat is considered a form of energy existing as the result of the random motion of molecules and is the form of energy that is transferred between bodies as a result of their temperature difference 2 a) much hotness; great warmth {stifling heat} b) FEVER 3 degree of hotness or warmth {at low heat} 4 the perception of heat by the senses, resulting from contact with or nearness to something hot; sensation of hotness or warmth felt through the skin 5 hot weather or climate 6 the warming of a room, house, etc., as by a stove or furnace {his rent includes heat} 7 a burning sensation produced by spices, mustard, etc. 8 color or other appearance as an indication of hotness {blue heat in metals} 9 strong feeling or emotion; excitement, ardor, anger, zeal, etc. 10 the period or condition of excitement, intensity, stress, etc.; most violent or intense point or stage {in the heat of battle} 11 a single effort, round, bout, or trial; esp., any of the preliminary rounds of a race, etc., the winners of which compete in the final round 12 a) sexual excitement b) the period of sexual excitement in animals; esp., the estrus of females 13 Metallurgy a) a single heating of metal, ore, etc. in a furnace or forge b) the amount processed in a single heating Æ 14 [Slang] a) coercion, as by intimidation b) great pressure, as in criminal investigation or law enforcement c) the police d) a pistol •vt., vi. 1 to make or become warm or hot 2 to make or become excited; inflame or become inflamed [ME hete < OE hætu < base of hat (see HOT), akin to Ger heiss < IE base *kai-, heat]
heat barrier THERMAL BARRIER
heat capacity the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance or system one degree, usually expressed in calories per degree Celsius
heat engine an engine for changing heat into mechanical energy, such as a steam engine or gasoline engine
heat exchanger any device, as a radiator or a condenser, for transferring heat energy to a cooler medium from a warmer one for heating or cooling purposes
heat exhaustion a condition caused by excessive loss of salt and water, usually resulting from overexertion in a hot environment, and characterized by peripheral vascular collapse, dizziness, nausea, low body temperature, clammy skin, etc.: cf. HEATSTROKE
heat lightning lightning seen near the horizon, esp. on hot evenings, and thought to be reflections of lightning on clouds below the horizon: its thunder is too distant to hear
heat of fusion the amount of heat needed to melt a unit mass of a solid that has just reached the melting point
heat of vaporization the amount of heat needed to turn one gram of a liquid into a vapor, without a rise in temperature of the liquid
heat pipe a thin, sealed metal tube that efficiently transfers heat without a pump, using a fluid that vaporizes at the hot end, condenses as it reaches the cooler end, and returns to the hot end by capillary action through a wick or along tiny grooves in the wall
heat prostration HEAT EXHAUSTION
heat pump a device for cooling or warming an enclosed space by removing heat from interior air and transferring it out, or by absorbing heat from outdoor air, or from a hot-water source, and transferring it in
heat rash MILIARIA
heat shield any heat-protecting device or system, esp. an ablative coating or tiles, bonded to the surface of a reentry spacecraft
heat sink a part of a system designed to be at a lower temperature than its surroundings and used to dissipate heat from that system
heat wave 1 unusually hot weather, resulting from a slowly moving air mass of relatively high temperature 2 a period of such weather in a particular place
heated (hi:t´id) •adj. 1 hot 2 vehement, impassioned, or angry heat´ed·ly •adv.
heater (hi:t´эr) •n. 1 an apparatus for heating or warming a room, car, water, etc.; stove, furnace, radiator, etc. 2 a person whose work is to heat something 3 in an electron tube, an element set inside the cathode and heated by an electric current so that it indirectly heats the cathode to the temperature at which it will give off electrons Æ 4 [Slang] a pistol
Heath (hi:θ), Edward (Richard George) 1916- ; Eng. politician: prime minister (1970-74) heath (hi:θ) •n. 1 a tract of open wasteland, esp. in the British Isles, covered with heather, low shrubs, etc.; moor 2 any plant of the heath family; esp., any of various shrubs and plants (genera Erica and Calluna) that grow on heaths, as heather •adj. designating a family (Ericaceae, order Ericales) of dicotyledonous woody shrubs and small trees, including the blueberry, mountain laurel, and rhododendrons one's native heath the place of one's birth or childhood [ME hethe < OE hæth, akin to Ger heide, wasteland, heath < IE base *kaito-, forested or uncultivated land > Welsh coed, forest]
heath aster a North American wildflower (Aster ericoides) of the composite family, with small, stiff leaves and white flowers, growing in dry, open places; dog fennel
heath cock BLACKCOCK
heath hen 1 GRAY HEN52 Æ 2 an extinct New England grouse (Tympanuchus cupido cupido)
heathbird (hi:θ´børd') •n. a bird living on heaths; specif., BLACK GROUSE
heathen (hi:´ðэn) pl. -thens or -then •n. 1 orig., and in the Old Testament, a member of any nation or people not worshiping the God of Israel 2 anyone not a Jew, Christian, or Muslim; esp., a member of a tribe, nation, etc. worshiping many gods 3 a person regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, unenlightened, etc. •adj. 1 of or characteristic of heathens; pagan 2 irreligious, uncivilized, etc. SYN. PAGAN hea´then·dom •n. hea´then·ish •adj. hea´then·ism' •n. [ME hethen < OE hæthen < hæth, HEATH; like Goth haithnō, gentile (woman) < haithi, heath (hence lit., heath dweller) a loan transl. used by ULFILAS for LL(Ec) paganus (see PAGAN), taken in its L sense, a countryman, rustic < pagus, the country]
heathenize (hi:´ðэn aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to make or become heathen
Heather (heð´эr) a feminine name heather (heð´эr) •n. any of various low-growing plants of the heath family; esp., a plant (Calluna vulgaris) common in the British Isles, with scalelike leaves and stalks of small, bell-shaped, purplish-pink flowers •adj. like heather in color or appearance heath´er·y •adj. [altered (after HEATH) < ME (northern & Scot) haddyr, prob. < OE *hædre, parallel with clofre, clover, mædre, madder]
heathy (hi:θ´i:) •adj. of, like, or covered with heath
heating pad a pad consisting of an electric heating element covered with fabric, for applying heat to parts of the body
heatstroke (hi:t´strouk') •n. a serious failure of the body's heat-regulation mechanisms resulting from excessive exposure to intense heat and characterized by high fever, dry skin, collapse, and sometimes convulsions or coma: cf. HEAT EXHAUSTION, SUNSTROKE
heat-treat (-tri:t') •vt. to heat and cool (a metal) so as to change its ductility or other properties in a desired way
heaume (houm) •n. a heavy medieval helmet covering the entire head and reaching to the shoulders [Fr < OFr helme: see HELMET]
heave (hi:v) heaved, hove, heav´ing •vt. 1 to raise or lift, esp. with effort 2 to lift in this way and throw or cast 3 to make rise or swell, as one's chest 4 to utter (a sigh, groan, etc.) with great effort or pain 5 Geol. to displace (a stratum or vein), as by the intersection of another stratum or vein 6 Naut. to raise, haul, pull, move, etc. by pulling with a rope or cable •vi. 1 to swell up; bulge out 2 to rise and fall rhythmically {heaving waves} 3 to make strenuous, spasmodic movements of the throat, chest, or stomach; specif., a) to retch; vomit or try to vomit b) to pant; breathe hard; gasp 4 Naut. a) to tug or haul (on or at a cable, rope, etc.) b) to push (at a capstan to turn it) c) to proceed; move {a ship hove into sight} •n. 1 the act or effort of heaving 2 Geol. a) the extent of horizontal displacement caused by a fault b) an upward displacement of soil, rocks, etc., usually caused by frost or moisture (also heaving) See also HEAVES heave ho! an exclamation used by sailors, as when heaving in the anchor heave to 1 Naut. to stop forward movement, esp. by bringing the vessel's head into the wind and keeping it there 2 to stop heav´er •n. [ME heven < OE hebban, akin to Ger heben (Goth hafjan) < IE base *kap-, to seize, grasp > HAVE, L capere]
heave-ho (hi:v´hou´) •n. Æ [Colloq.] dismissal, as from a position: chiefly in the phrase give (or get) the (old) heave-ho [see the phrase HEAVE HO! in prec.]
heaven (hev´эn) •n. 1 [usually pl.] the space surrounding or seeming to overarch the earth, in which the sun, moon, and stars appear; visible sky; firmament: in pl., used with the 2 [often H-] Theol. a) a state or place of complete happiness or perfect rest, attained by the good after death; specif. esp., in Christian theology, the state or place of perfect union with God and so of eternal life and supreme happiness, attained by the elect after death b) popularly, the abode of God, his angels, and the blessed c) those in heaven d) the powers of heaven; also, God {Heaven help you!} 3 a) any place of great beauty and pleasure b) a state of great happiness Often used in exclamations of surprise, protest, etc. [ for heaven's sake!, good heavens!] move heaven and earth to do all that can be done; exert the utmost effort, influence, etc. [ME heven < OE heofon < IE base *em-, to cover (> LL camisia, shirt): akin to OHG himil and to OS hevan, ON, himinn (dat. hifne), with -fn, -v-n < -mn by dissimilation]
heavenly (hev´эn li:) •adj. 1 CELESTIAL (sense 1) 2 a) causing or marked by great happiness, beauty, peace, etc. b) [Colloq.] very attractive, pleasing, etc. 3 Theol. of or in heaven; holy; divine heav´en·li·ness •n. [ME hevenlich < OE heofonlic]
heavenward (-wэrd) •adv., adj. toward heaven Also heav´en·wards •adv. [ME heveneward: see -WARD]
heaves (hi:vz) •n.pl. Æ [with sing. v.] chronic emphysema of horses, characterized by forced breathing, coughing, heaving of the flanks, etc.
heavily (hev´э li:) •adv. in a heavy manner; specif., a) with a heavy weight {heavily burdened} b) as if with a heavy weight; slowly; clumsily; laboriously {to rise heavily from one's seat} c) oppressively; severely {heavily taxed} d) abundantly {heavily populated}
heaviness (hev´i: nis) •n. a heavy quality or state
Heaviside layer (hev´i: said') E LAYER [after O. Heaviside (1850-1925), Eng physicist]
heavy (hev´i:) heav´i·er, heav´i·est •adj. 1 hard to lift or move because of great weight; weighty 2 of high specific gravity; of concentrated weight for the size 3 above the usual or defined weight: said of goods, certain animals, etc. 4 larger, greater, or more intense than usual or normal; specif., a) falling or striking with great force or impact {a heavy blow} b) of greater than usual quantity {a heavy vote} c) violent and intense; rough {a heavy sea} d) loud, deep, and resounding {heavy thunder} e) thick, coarse, or massive {heavy features} f) going beyond the average; to a greater than usual extent {a heavy drinker} g) prolonged and intense {heavy applause} h) weighed down {trees heavy with apples} 5 of great importance; serious; grave; profound {a heavy responsibility} 6 hard to endure; oppressive; burdensome; distressing {heavy taxes} 7 hard to do or manage; difficult {heavy work} 8 grievous; lamentable {heavy sorrow} 9 burdened with sorrow; depressed {a heavy heart} 10 burdened with sleep or fatigue {heavy eyelids} 11 capable of carrying a load of great weight {a heavy truck} 12 characterized by density, hardness, fullness, etc. suggestive of weight; specif., a) hard to digest {a heavy meal} b) not leavened properly; doughy {a heavy cake} c) remaining in the atmosphere; clinging; penetrating {a heavy odor} d) overcast; cloudy; gloomy; lowering {a heavy sky} e) hard to work with or travel over because of mud, sand, clay, etc. {a heavy soil} 13 tedious, dull, or strained {heavy humor} 14 clumsy; unwieldy; physically awkward {a heavy gait} Æ 15 steeply inclined {a heavy grade} 16 designating any large industry that uses massive machinery and produces raw or processed materials, as steel, basic to other industries 17 designating, of, or equipped with massive or relatively heavy weapons, armor, etc. 18 Chem. a) designating an isotope of greater atomic weight than the normal or most abundant isotope b) designating a compound containing such isotopes 19 Theater serious, tragic, or villainous 20 [Slang] very serious or important and, often, depressing •adv. heavily: often in hyphenated compounds {heavy-laden} •n. pl. heav´ies 1 something heavy 2 Theater a) a serious, tragic, or villainous role b) an actor who plays such roles 3 [Slang] an influential or important person hang heavy to pass tediously; drag: said of time heavy with child pregnant SYN.—heavy implies relatively great density, quantity, intensity, etc. and figuratively connotes a pressing down on the mind, spirits, or senses [heavy water, heavy-hearted]; weighty suggests heaviness as an absolute rather than a relative quality and figuratively connotes great importance or influence [a weighty problem]: ponderous applies to something that is very heavy because of size or bulk and figuratively connotes a labored or dull quality [a ponderous dissertation]; massive stresses largeness and solidity rather than heaviness and connotes an impressiveness due to great magnitude [massive structures]; cumbersome implies a heaviness and bulkiness that makes for awkward handling and, in extended use, connotes unwieldiness [cumbersome formalities] —ANT. light [ME hevi < OE hefig (akin to OHG hebig) < base of hebban (see HEAVE) + -ig (see -Y³): prob. basic sense containing something, full]
heavy breathing [Colloq.] 1 a representation, as in a novel or film, of strong emotion or sexual passion 2 a ponderous or pompous quality, as of writing style heav'y-breath´ing •adj.
heavy hydrogen DEUTERIUM
heavy metal a form of rock music characterized by very loud amplification, electronic distortion, throbbing rhythms, shouted lyrics, etc.
heavy spar BARITE
heavy water water composed of heavy isotopes of hydrogen or oxygen, or of both; esp., deuterium oxide, D2O, which is water composed of ordinary oxygen and deuterium
heavy-duty (hev´i: du:t´i:, -dyu:t´i:) •adj. made to withstand great strain, bad weather, etc. {heavy-duty shoes}
heavy-footed (hev´i: fut'id) •adj. ponderous or clumsy in or as in walking; plodding
heavy-handed (-hæn'did) •adj. 1 without a light touch; clumsy or tactless 2 cruel, oppressive, or tyrannical heav´y-hand'ed·ly •adv. heav´y-hand'ed·ness •n.
heavy-hearted (hev´i: härt'id) •adj. sad; depressed; despondent heav´y-heart'ed·ly •adv. heav´y-heart'ed·ness •n.
heavy-laden (hev´i: leid´ªn) •adj. 1 laden, or loaded, heavily 2 heavily burdened with care and trouble
heavyset (hev´i: set') •adj. having a stout or stocky build
heavyweight (hev´i: weit') •n. 1 a person or animal weighing much more than average 2 a boxer in the heaviest weight classification, typically weighing over 190 pounds (86.18 kg) Æ 3 [Colloq.] a very intelligent, influential, or important person
Heb 1 Hebrew 2 Bible Hebrews
hebdomad (heb´dou mæd', -dэ-) •n. seven days; a week heb·dom·a·dal (heb däm´э dэl) •adj. [L hebdomas (gen. hebdomadis) < Gr, the number seven, week < hebdomos, seventh < hepta, SEVEN]
Hebe (hi:´bi:) Gr. Myth. the goddess of youth, daughter of Hera and Zeus: she is a cupbearer to the gods [L < Gr Hēbē < hēbē, youth]
Hebei (hэ bei´) province of NE China, on the gulf of Bo Hai: 84,865 sq. mi. (220,640 sq. km) pop. 53,000,000; cap. Shijiazhuang
hebephrenia (hi:'bi fri:´ni: э) •n. a form of schizophrenia characterized by childish or silly behavior, disorganized thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, usually beginning in adolescence he'be·phren´ic (-fren´ik) •adj. [ModL < Gr hēbē, youth + phrēn, the mind]
hebetate (heb´i teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vt., vi. to make or become dull in feeling, spirit, etc. •adj. Bot. having a blunt point, as certain leaves heb'e·ta´tion •n. [< L hebetatus, pp. of hebetare, to make blunt or dull < hebes, blunt, dull]
hebetic (hi: bet´ik) •adj. of or happening at puberty [Gr hēbētikos, youthful < hēbē, youth]
hebetude (heb´i tu:d', -tyu:d') •n. the quality or condition of being dull or lethargic [LL hebetudo < L hebes (gen. hebetis), blunt, dull]
Hebraic (hi: brei´ik, hi-) •adj. of or characteristic of the Hebrews or their language or culture; Hebrew He·bra´i·cal·ly •adv. [LL Hebraicus < Gr Hebraïkos]
Hebraism (hi:´brei iz'эm, -bri iz'-) •n. 1 Hebrew phrase, idiom, or custom 2 the characteristic ethical system, moral attitude, etc. of the Hebrews He´bra·ist •n. He'bra·is´tic •adj. [ModL Hebraismus < LGr Hebraismos < Gr Hebraizein: see HEBRAIZE]
Hebraize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to make or become Hebrew in language, customs, character, etc. [< Gr Hebraizein < Hebraios: see HEBREW]
Hebrew (hi:´bru') •n. 1 any member of a group of Semitic peoples tracing descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Israelite: in modern, esp. earlier, usage interchangeable with Jew 2 a) the ancient Semitic language of the Israelites, in which most of the Old Testament was written b) the modern form of this language, the official language of Israel •adj. 1 of Hebrew or the Hebrews 2 JEWISH [ME Hebreu < OFr < L Hebraeus < Gr Hebraios < Aram ivray < Heb ivri, lit., ? one from across (the Euphrates River)]
Hebrew calendar JEWISH CALENDAR
Hebrew-Aramaic (-ær'э mei´ik, -er'-) •n. a mixture of Hebrew and Jewish Aramaic [coined (c. 1954) by Max Weinreich (1894-1969), U.S. linguist, to render Yidd loshn-koydesh & Heb leshon-hakodesh, lit., the language of holiness]
Hebrews (hi:´bru:z') a book of the New Testament, a letter of undetermined authorship to the Hebrews: abbrev. Heb
Hebrides (heb´rэ di:z') group of islands off the W coast of Scotland: they are divided into the Inner Hebrides, nearer the mainland, & the Outer Hebrides: c. 2,800 sq. mi. (7,251 sq. km); pop. c. 80,000 Heb'ri·de´an (-di:´эn) •adj., n.
Hebron (hi:´brэn) city in W Jordan, south of Jerusalem, dating from Biblical times: pop. 143,000
Hecate (hek´э ti:, hek´it) Gr. Myth. a goddess of the moon, earth, and underground realm of the dead, later regarded as the goddess of sorcery and witchcraft [L < Gr Hekatē]
hecatomb (hek´э toum'; also, -tum') •n. 1 in ancient Greece, any great sacrifice to the gods; specif., the slaughter of 100 cattle at one time 2 any large-scale sacrifice or slaughter [L hecatombe < Gr hekatombē < hekaton, HUNDRED + bous, ox: see COW¹]
heck (hek) •interj., n. [Colloq.] a euphemism for HELL [var. of Scot dial. hech, exclamation of surprise, sorrow, fatigue: Scot form of HEIGH]
heckle (hek´эl) -led, -ling •vt. 1 HACKLE¹ 2 to annoy or harass (a speaker) by interrupting with questions or taunts [orig. Scot] •n. HACKLE¹ SYN. BAIT heck´ler •n. [ME hekelin < hechele: see HACKLE¹]
hectare (hek´ter') •n. a metric unit of land measure equal to 10,000 square meters, or 100 ares (2.47 acres) [Fr: see HECTO- & ARE²]
hectic (hek´tik) •adj. 1 designating or of the fever accompanying wasting diseases, esp. tuberculosis 2 of, affected with, or characteristic of a wasting disease, as tuberculosis; consumptive 3 red or flushed, as with fever 4 characterized by confusion, rush, excitement, etc. hec´ti·cal·ly •adv. [altered (after Fr or L) < ME etik < OFr étique (Fr hectique) < LL hecticus < Gr hektikos, habitual, hectic < hexis, permanent condition or habit of the body < echein, to have: for IE base see SCHOOL¹]
hecto- (hek´tou, -tэ) combining form one hundred; the factor 10² {hectogram} Also, before a vowel, hect- Etymology [Fr, contr < Gr hekaton, HUNDRED]
hectocotylus (hek'tou kät´ªl эs) pl. -y·li' (-ai') •n. a specific arm of a male octopus, cuttlefish, or other cephalopod, which becomes modified at sexual maturity so that it can transfer sperm to the female [ModL < prec. + Gr kotylē, a hollow, cavity]
hectogram (hek´tou græm', -tэ-) •n. a metric measure of weight equal to 100 grams (3.527 ounces) [Fr hectogramme: see HECTO- & GRAM¹]
hectograph (-græf') •n. a duplicating device by which written or typed matter is transferred to a glycerin-coated sheet of gelatin, from which many copies can be taken •vt. to duplicate by means of a hectograph hec'to·graph´ic •adj. [Ger hektograph < hekto- (< Fr hecto-, HECTO-) + -graph, -GRAPH]
hectokilo- (hek´tou kil´ou) combining form one hundred thousand; the factor 105 {hectokilosecond} [HECTO- + KILO-]
hectoliter (hek´tou li:t'эr, -tэ-) •n. a metric measure of capacity equal to 100 liters (26.418 gallons) Brit., etc. sp. hec´to·li'tre [Fr hectolitre: see HECTO- & LITER]
hectometer (-mi:t'эr) •n. a metric unit of linear measure equal to 100 meters (109.36 yards) Brit., etc. sp. hec´to·me'tre [Fr hectomètre: see HECTO- & METER¹]
hector (hek´tэr) •n. a swaggering fellow; bully •vt., vi. to browbeat; bully SYN. BAIT [after fol.: in early pop. drama he was portrayed as a bully] Hector (hek´tэr) 1 a masculine name 2 in Homer's Iliad, the greatest Trojan hero, killed by Achilles to avenge the death of Patroclus: he is Priam's oldest son [L < Gr Hektōr, lit., holding fast < echein, to hold, have: for IE base see SCHOOL¹]
Hecuba (hek´yu: bэ) in Homer's Iliad, wife of Priam and mother of Hector, Troilus, Paris, and Cassandra [L < Gr Hekabē]
he'd (hi:d) 1 he had 2 he would
heddle (hed´ªl) •n. any of a series of parallel wires or cords in the harness of a loom, used for separating and guiding the warp threads [prob. (by metathesis) < ME helde < OE hefeld, weaving thread (akin to ON hafald) < base of hebban, to raise (see HEAVE) + -eld, instrumental suffix]
heder (khei´dэř) pl. ha·dar·im (khä'dä ři:m´) •n. a Jewish religious school for young children [see CHEDER]
hedge (hej) •n. 1 a row of closely planted shrubs, bushes, or trees forming a boundary or fence 2 anything serving as a fence or barrier; restriction or defense 3 the act or an instance of hedging •adj. 1 of, in, or near a hedge 2 low, disreputable, irregular, etc. •vt. hedged, hedg´ing 1 to place a hedge around or along; border or bound with a hedge 2 to hinder or guard as by surrounding with a barrier: often with in 3 to try to avoid or lessen loss in (a bet, risk, etc.) by making counterbalancing bets, investments, etc. •vi. 1 to hide or protect oneself, as if behind a hedge 2 to hide behind words; refuse to commit oneself or give a direct answer 3 to try to avoid or lessen loss by making counterbalancing bets, investments, etc. hedg´er •n. [ME hegge < OE hecg, akin to Ger hecke < IE base *kagh-, wickerwork, wickerwork pen > ON heggr, L caulae, sheepfold: basic sense woven fence, enclosure]
hedge fund a partnership of investors who pool large sums for speculating in securities, often taking large risks, as by buying with borrowed funds or selling short
hedge hyssop a low-growing plant (Gratiola aurea) of the figwort family, common in wet grounds from Maine to Florida
hedge sparrow a small European passerine bird (Prunella modularis, family Prunellidae), reddish-brown with white-tipped wings, often found in shrubbery
hedgehog (hej´hög') •n. 1 any of several small insectivores (family Erinaceidae) of the Old World, with a shaggy coat and sharp spines on the back, which bristle and form a defense when the animal curls up Æ 2 the American porcupine 3 Mil. a) any of several defensive obstacles b) any of a series of defensive fortifications capable of continued resistance after being encircled [HEDGE + HOG: prob. from living in hedgerows and from the hoglike snout]
hedgehop (hej´häp') -hopped', -hop'ping •vi. [Colloq.] to fly an airplane very close to the ground, as for spraying insecticide hedge´hop'per •n.
hedgerow (hej´rou') •n. a row of shrubs, bushes, etc., forming a hedge
hedonic (hi: dän´ik) •adj. 1 having to do with pleasure 2 [Rare] of hedonism or hedonists; hedonistic [Gr hēdonikos < hēdonē, pleasure < base of hēdys, SWEET]
hedonics (hi: dän´iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the branch of psychology dealing with pleasant and unpleasant feelings [< prec.]
hedonism (hi:´dэn iz'эm, hi:d´ªn-) •n. 1 Philos. the ethical doctrine that pleasure, variously conceived of in terms of happiness of the individual or of society, is the principal good and the proper aim of action 2 Psychol. the theory that a person always acts in such a way as to seek pleasure and avoid pain 3 the self-indulgent pursuit of pleasure as a way of life he´don·ist •n. he·do·nis·tic (hi:'dэ nis´tik, hi:d'ªn is-) •adj. he'do·nis´ti·cal·ly •adv. [< Gr hēdonē, pleasure (see HEDONIC) + -ISM]
-hedral (hi:´drэl) combining form forming adjectives having (a specified number of) surfaces {hexahedral}
-hedron (hi:´drэn) combining form forming nouns a geometric figure or crystal having (a specified number of) surfaces {hexahedron} [Gr -edron < hedra, a side, base, seat < IE base *sed- > L sedere, SIT]
heebie-jeebies (hi:´bi: ji:´bi:z) •n.pl. [Old Slang] a state of nervousness; jitters: with the [coined by W. B. De Beck (1890-1942) in his comic strip Barney Google]
heed (hi:d) •vt. to pay close attention to; take careful notice of •vi. to pay attention •n. close attention; careful notice heed´ful •adj. [ME heden < OE hedan (< *hodjan: akin to Ger hüten) < base of hod (see HOOD¹) in the sense care, keeping, protection: for IE base see HAT]
heedless (hi:d´lis) •adj. not taking heed; careless; unmindful heed´less·ly •adv. heed´less·ness •n.
heehaw (hi:´hö') •n. 1 the sound that a donkey makes; bray 2 a loud, often silly laugh like a bray •vi. 1 to bray 2 to laugh in a loud, often silly way; guffaw [echoic]
heel¹ (hi:l) •n. 1 the back part of the human foot, under the ankle and behind the instep: see CALCANEUS 2 the corresponding part of the hind foot of an animal 3 a) the part of a stocking, shoe, etc. that covers the heel b) the built-up part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel 4 crushing oppressive or tyrannical power {under the heel of fascism} 5 anything suggesting the human heel in location, shape, or function, as the end of a loaf of bread, a rind end of cheese, the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist, the part of the head of a golf club nearest the shaft, the lower end of a ship's mast, a small quantity of liquor left in a bottle, etc. Æ 6 [Colloq.] a despicable or unscrupulous person; cad •vt. 1 to furnish with a heel 2 to follow closely at the rear of 3 to touch, press, or drive forward with or as with the heel 4 to equip (a gamecock) with metal spurs Æ 5 [Colloq.] a) to provide (a person) with money (usually in the passive) b) to equip or arm (oneself) 6 Golf to hit (a ball) with the heel of the club •vi. 1 to follow along at the heels of someone {to teach a dog to heel} 2 to move the heels rhythmically in dancing at heel close to one's heels; just behind cool one's heels [Colloq.] to wait or be kept waiting for a considerable time down at (the) heel (or heels) 1 with the heels of one's shoes in need of repair 2 shabby; seedy; run-down heel in to cover (plant roots) temporarily with earth in preparation for planting kick up one's heels to be lively or merry; have fun on (or upon) the heels of close behind; immediately following out at the heel (or heels) 1 having holes in the heels of one's shoe or socks 2 shabby; seedy; run-down show one's (or a clean pair of) heels to run away take to one's heels to run away to heel 1 close to one's heels; just behind 2 under discipline or control turn on one's heel to turn around abruptly heel´less •adj. [ME hele < OE hela, akin to Du hiel < Gmc *hanhila < *hanha < IE base *kenk-, leg joint, heel]
heel² (hi:l) •vi. to lean or tilt to one side, as a ship or boat in a high wind •vt. to cause (a vessel) to heel •n. 1 the act of heeling 2 the extent of this [with assimilated -d < ME helden < OE hieldan (*healdjan), to incline, slope < base of heald, sloping, bent < IE base *el-, to incline > (via *lei-) L -clinare, INCLINE]
heel-and-toe (hi:l´эn tou´) •adj. designating or of a walking race or jogging step in which the heel of one foot touches the ground before the toes of the other leave it
heelball (hi:l´böl') •n. a ball or stick of beeswax mixed with lampblack and used in making rubbings [orig. used by shoemakers in polishing the edges of heels and soles]
heeled (hi:ld) •adj. 1 having a heel or heels Æ 2 [Colloq.] a) having money b) armed, esp. with a gun
heeler (hi:l´эr) •n. 1 one that heels Æ 2 [Colloq.] WARD HEELER
heelpiece (hi:l´pi:s') •n. a piece forming, affixed to, or like the heel of a shoe, etc.
heelplate (-pleit') •n. a thin metal piece put on the bottom of the heel of a shoe to prevent wear
heeltap (-tæp') •n. 1 a lift in the heel of a shoe 2 a bit of liquor left in a glass
Hefei (he'fei´) city in E China: capital of Anhui province: pop. 360,000
heft (heft) •n. [Colloq.] 1 weight; heaviness 2 importance; influence Æ 3 [Rare] the main part; bulk •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to lift or heave 2 to try to determine the weight of by lifting •vi. [Colloq.] to weigh [< base of HEAVE]
hefty (hef´ti:) heft´i·er, heft´i·est •adj. [Colloq.] 1 weighty; heavy 2 large and powerful 3 big or fairly big heft´i·ly •adv. heft´i·ness •n.
hegari (hi ger´i:, heg´э ri:) •n. any of several varieties of grain sorghums having juicy, leafy stalks and erect heads with grayish grain [Ar (in Sudan) hegiri, for hajari, stony]
Hegel (hei´gэl), Ge·org Wil·helm Frie·drich (gei ôřkh´ vil´helm fři:´dřiH) 1770-1831; Ger. philosopher
Hegelian (he geil´i: эn, -geil´yэn; hi-; -gi:l-) •adj. of Hegel or Hegelianism •n. a follower of Hegel or his philosophy
Hegelianism (-iz'эm) •n. the philosophy of Hegel, who held that every existent idea or fact belongs to an all-embracing mind in which each idea or situation (thesis) evokes its opposite (antithesis) and these two result in a unified whole (synthesis), which in turn becomes a new thesis
hegemonism (hi jem´э niz'эm) •n. the policy or practice of a nation in aggressively expanding its influence over other countries he·gem´o·nist' •n., adj. he·gem´o·nis'tic •adj.
hegemony (hi jem´э ni:; hej´э mou'ni:, hi:´jэ-) pl. -nies •n. leadership or dominance, esp. that of one state or nation over others heg·e·mon·ic (hej'э män´ik, hi:'jэ-) •adj. [Gr hēgemonia, leadership < hēgemōn, leader < hēgeisthai, to lead, go on ahead < IE base *sāg-, to track down > SAKE¹, SEEK]
hegira (hi jai´rэ; also hej´i rэ) •n. 1 [often H-] Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D.; the Muslim era dates from this 2 a trip or journey, esp. one made to escape a dangerous or undesirable situation [ML < Ar hijrah, lit., separation, flight, era of Mohammed < hajara, to leave]
heh (hei) •n. HE²
Heidegger (hai´di gэr), Martin 1889-1976; Ger. existentialist philosopher
Heidelberg (haid´ªl børg'; Ger hai´dэl beřkh') city in SW Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg: site of a famous university (founded 1386): pop. 133,000
Heidelberg man (hai´dэl berg', haid´ªl-; -børg') a type of early human known from a fossil lower jaw discovered in 1907 near Heidelberg, Germany: believed to be from the Paleolithic period
Heidi (hai´di:) a feminine name
heifer (hef´эr) •n. a young cow that has not borne a calf [ME haifre < OE heahfore, lit., full-grown young ox < heah, high, hence full-grown (see HIGH) + fearr, bull, lit., young animal: see FARROW²]
Heifetz (hai´fits), Ja·scha (yä´shэ) 1901-87; U.S. violinist, born in Russia
heigh (hai, hei) •interj. an exclamation to attract notice, show pleasure, express surprise, etc.
heigh-ho (-hou´) •interj. an exclamation of mild surprise, boredom, disappointment, fatigue, greeting, etc.
height (hait) •n. 1 the topmost point of anything 2 the highest limit; greatest degree; extreme; climax; culmination {the height of absurdity} 3 the distance from the bottom to the top 4 a) elevation or distance above a given level, as above the surface of the earth or sea; altitude b) elevation (of the sun, a star, etc.) above the horizon, measured in degrees 5 a) a relatively great distance from bottom to top b) a relatively great distance above a given level 6 [often pl.] a point or place considerably above most others; eminence; elevation; hill 7 [Obs.] high rank SYN.—height refers to distance from bottom to top [a figurine four inches in height] or to distance above a given level [he dropped it from a height of ten feet]; altitude and elevation refer especially to distance above a given level (usually the surface of the earth) and generally connote great distance [the altitude of an airplane, the elevation of a mountain]; stature refers especially to the height of a human being standing erect [he was short in stature] [< earlier highth < ME heighthe < OE hiehthu (akin to Goth hauhitha) < heah: see HIGH & -TH¹]
height of land [Cdn.] a watershed
height to paper the standard height of type from face to feet, equal in the U.S. to .9186 inch
heighten (hait´ªn) •vt., vi. 1 to bring or come to a high or higher position; raise or rise 2 to make or become larger, greater, stronger, brighter, etc.; increase; intensify SYN. INTENSIFY height´en·er •n. [< prec. + -EN]
heiligenschein (hai´li gэn shain') •n. a halolike optical phenomenon around an observer's shadow when there is a large distance between the observer and the shadow [Ger, halo]
Heilongjiang (hei´luŋ´jyäŋ´) province of NE China: 179,000 sq. mi. (463,600 sq. km); pop. 32,660,000; cap. Harbin: old form Hei·lung·kiang (hei´luŋ´jyäŋ´)
Heimdall (heim´däl') Norse Myth. the watchman of Asgard, home of the gods [ON Heimdallr]
heimish (haim´ish) •adj. HAIMISH
Heimlich maneuver (haim´lik) an emergency technique used to dislodge an object stuck in the windpipe: air is forced up the windpipe by applying sudden, sharp pressure to the abdomen just below the rib cage [after H. J. Heimlich (1920- ), U.S. surgeon]
hein (æñ) •interj. Fr. equiv. of EH [Fr]
Heine (hai´nэ), Hein·rich (hain´řiH) 1797-1856; Ger. poet & essayist
heinie (hai´ni:) •n. [Slang] the buttocks
heinous (hei´nэs) •adj. outrageously evil or wicked; abominable {a heinous crime} SYN. OUTRAGEOUS hei´nous·ly •adv. hei´nous·ness •n. [ME hainous < OFr hainös (Fr haineux) < haine, hatred < hair, to hate < Frank *hatjan, akin to Ger hassen, HATE]
heir (er) •n. 1 a person who inherits or is legally entitled to inherit, through the natural action of the law, another's property or title upon the other's death 2 anyone who receives property of a deceased person either by will or by law 3 a person who appears to get some trait from, or carries on in the tradition of, a predecessor [ME < OFr < L heres: see HEREDITY]
heir apparent pl. heirs apparent the heir whose right to a certain property or title cannot be denied if the heir outlives the ancestor and the ancestor dies intestate: see HEIR PRESUMPTIVE
heir at law the heir who has the right, under the laws of intestate descent and distribution, to receive the estate of an ancestor who has died without leaving a will
heir presumptive pl. heirs presumptive an heir whose right to a certain property or title will be lost if someone more closely related to the ancestor is born before that ancestor dies: see HEIR APPARENT
heirdom (er´dэm) •n. HEIRSHIP
heiress (er´is) •n. a female heir, esp. to great wealth
heirloom (er´lu:m') •n. 1 a piece of personal property that goes to an heir along with an estate 2 any treasured possession handed down from generation to generation [ME heir lome: see HEIR & LOOM¹]
heirship (er´ship') •n. the position or rights of an heir; right to inheritance [see -SHIP]
Heisenberg (hai´zэn beřkh), Wer·ner (Karl) (veř´nэř) 1901-76; Ger. theoretical & nuclear physicist
heishi (hai´shi:) •n.pl. tiny, polished disks or beads made from the shells of clams, oysters, abalone, etc. or semiprecious stones and strung to form necklaces
heist (haist) •n. [Slang] a robbery or holdup •vt. 1 [Slang] to rob or steal 2 dial. var. of HOIST heist´er •n. [< HOIST]
Hejaz (he jæz´, hi:-; -jäz´) a region of NW Saudi Arabia, formerly a kingdom: now constituting the Western Province
hejira (hi jai´rэ; also hej´i rэ) •n. HEGIRA
Hekate (hek´э ti:) HECATE
hekto- (hek´tou, -tэ) combining form HECTO-
Hel (hel) Norse Myth. 1 Loki's daughter, goddess of death and the underworld 2 the underworld to which the dead not killed in battle are sent: cf. VALHALLA [ON: see HELL]
HeLa cell (hi:´lэ) a strain of cells derived from the first carcinoma cells to be continuously maintained in culture: still used in cancer and biological research [< He(nrietta) La(cks), from whose cervical cancer such cells were obtained in 1951]
hélas (ei läs´) •interj. Fr. equiv. of ALAS [Fr]
held (held) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of HOLD¹
heldentenor (hel´dэn tei nôř') •n. a robust tenor voice suited to heroic roles, as in Wagnerian opera [Ger, lit., heroic tenor]
Helen (hel´эn) a feminine name: dim. Nell, Nelly, Lena; var. Helena, Ellen, Eleanor; equiv. Fr. Hélène, Elaine, It. & Sp. Elena [< Fr or L: Fr Hélène < L Helena < Gr Helenē, lit., torch]
Helen of Troy Gr. Legend the beautiful wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta: the Trojan War is started because of her abduction by Paris to Troy
Helena (hel´i nэ; also, for 1, hэ li:´nэ) 1 a feminine name: see HELEN 2 capital of Mont., in the WC part: pop. 25,000 [said to be after the hometown of a settler from Minnesota]
Helgoland (hel´gou lænd'; Ger hel´gou länt') island of Germany, in the North Sea: one of the North Frisian Islands: c. .25 sq. mi. (.64 sq. km)
heli- (hi:´li, -lэ, -li:; he-) combining form HELIO-
heliacal (hi lai´э kэl) •adj. of or near the sun; solar; specif., designating the apparent rising, or setting, of a star or planet just after, or before, conjunction with the sun he·li´a·cal·ly •adv. [LL Heliacus, relating to the sun < Gr hēliakos < hēlios, HELIOS + -AL]
helianthus (hi:'li: æn´θэs) •n. SUNFLOWER [ModL < heli- + Gr anthos, a flower: see ANTHO-]
helical (hel´i kэl) •adj. of, or having the form of, a helix; spiral hel´i·cal·ly •adv. [HELIC(O)- + -AL]
helices (hel´i si:z') •n. alt. pl. of HELIX
helicline (hel´i klain') •n. a curving ramp that ascends gradually [fol. + (IN)CLINE]
helico- (hel´i kou') combining form spiral, spiral-shaped Also, before a vowel, hel·ic- [< Gr helix (gen. helikos): see HELIX]
helicoid (hel´i koid') •adj. shaped like, or coiled in the form of, a spiral, as the shell of a snail or certain inflorescences Also hel'i·coi´dal •n. Geom. a surface generated by the rotation of a plane or twisted curve about a fixed line so that each point of the curve traces out a circular helix with the fixed line as axis [Gr helikoeidēs < helix, a spiral + -eidēs, -OID]
Helicon (hel´i kän', -kэn) mountain group in SC Greece, on the Gulf of Corinth: in Greek mythology, the home of the Muses; highest peak, 5,735 ft. (1,750 m) •n. [h-] a brass instrument of the tuba family, consisting of a long, coiled tube that can be carried over the shoulder: see SOUSAPHONE [prob. < HELICO- + arbitrary ending: from the shape]
heliconia (hel'i kou´ni: э) •n. any of a genus (Heliconia) of tropical plants of the banana family, having tall, erect leaves and spikes of flowers enclosed in brilliantly colored bracts [ModL < L, fem. of Heliconius, of prec.]
helicopter (hel´i käp'tэr; occas., hi:´li-) •n. a kind of vertical-lift aircraft, capable of hovering or moving in any direction, having a motor-driven, horizontal rotor •vi., vt. to travel or convey by helicopter [Fr hélicoptère: see HELICO- & PTERO-]
helictite (hэ lik´tait') •n. a thin, stony, curling cave deposit, usually of calcite, slowly formed as tiny water drops emerge from its tip and evaporate
helio- (hi:´li: ou', -э) combining form sun, sunlight, light {heliocentric, heliograph} [L < Gr hēlio- < hēlios, SUN¹]
heliocentric (hi:'li: ou sen´trik, -li: э-) •adj. 1 calculated from, viewed as from, or belonging to the center of the sun 2 having or regarding the sun as the center [prec. + -CENTRIC]
heliochrome (hi:´li: э kroum') •n. an early type of photograph in natural colors [HELIO- + -CHROME]
Heliogabalus (hi:'li: э gæb´э lэs) var. of ELAGABALUS
heliogram (hi:´li: ou græm', -li: э-) •n. a message sent by heliograph
heliograph (-græf') •n. 1 a permanent image formed on a glass plate by an early photographic process 2 a device for sending messages or signaling by flashing the sun's rays from a mirror •vt., vi. to signal or communicate by heliograph he'li·og´ra·pher (-äg´rэ fэr) •n. he'li·o·graph´ic •adj. he'li·og´ra·phy •n. [HELIO- + -GRAPH]
heliogravure (hi:'li: ou'grэ vyur´) •n. old term for PHOTOGRAVURE [Fr héliogravure: see HELIO- & GRAVURE]
heliolatry (hi:'li: äl´э tri:) •n. sun worship he'li·ol´a·ter •n. [HELIO- + -LATRY]
heliometer (hi:'li: äm´эt эr) •n. an instrument formerly used for measuring the angular distance between two stars [Fr héliomètre: see HELIO- & -METER: so called because orig. used in measuring the sun's diameter]
Heliopolis (hi:'li: äp´э lis) 1 ancient city in the Nile delta, just north of where Cairo now stands: center for the worship of the sun god Ra 2 ancient city on the site of modern BAALBEK [Gr Hēliopolis, lit., city of the sun < hēlios (see HELIOS) + polis, city]
Helios (hi:´li: äs') Gr. Myth. the sun god, son of Hyperion: later identified with Apollo [Gr hēlios, the sun < IE base *sāwel-, *swel-, *sun-, SUN¹ > L sol, ON sol]
heliostat (hi:´li: ou stæt', -li: э-) •n. a device consisting of a mirror slowly revolved by clockwork so as to reflect the sun's rays continuously in a fixed direction [< ModL heliostata: see HELIO- & -STAT]
heliotaxis (hi:´li: ou tæk´sis, -li: э-) •n. the positive, or negative, response of a freely moving organism toward, or away from, sunlight [ModL: see HELIO- & TAXIS]
heliotherapy (-θer´э pi:) •n. the treatment of disease by exposing the body to sunlight [HELIO- + THERAPY]
heliotrope (hi:´li: э troup', hi:l´yэ-; Brit., also, hel´yэ-) •n. 1 [Obs.] a sunflower or other plant whose flowers turn to face the sun 2 any of a genus (Heliotropium) of plants of the borage family, with fragrant clusters of small, white or reddish-purple flowers 3 GARDEN HELIOTROPE 4 reddish purple 5 a kind of HELIOGRAPH (sense 2) used in surveying 6 BLOODSTONE •adj. reddish-purple [Fr héliotrope < L heliotropium < Gr hēliotropion < hēlios, the sun (see HELIOS) + base of trepein, to turn (see TROPE)]
heliotropism (hi:'li: ä´trou piz'эm, -trэ-) •n. any positive, or negative, turning or bending of a plant or sessile animal toward, or away from, light, esp. sunlight he'li·o·trop´ic (-ou träp´ik, -э träp´-) •adj. he'li·o·trop´i·cal·ly •adv. [HELIO- + -TROPISM]
heliotype (hi:´li: ou taip', -li: э-) •n. COLLOTYPE he´li·o·typ'y •n. [HELIO- + -TYPE]
heliozoan (hi:'li: э zou´эn) •n. any of a class (Heliozoa) of chiefly freshwater protozoans with slender pseudopodia arranged as rays he'li·o·zo´ic (-ik) •adj. [< ModL Heliozoa (< HELIO- + -ZOA) + -AN]
heliport (hel´i pört') •n. an airport for helicopters Also hel´i·pad' (-pæd') [HELI(COPTER) + (AIR)PORT]
helium (hi:´li: эm) •n. a colorless, odorless chemical element, one of the noble gases, having the lowest known boiling and melting points: it is used in low-temperature work, as a diluent for oxygen, in deep-sea breathing systems, for inflating balloons, etc.: symbol, He; at. wt., 4.0026; at. no., 2; density, 0.1785 g/l (0°C); melt. pt., -272.2°C; boil. pt., -268.9°C [ModL < Gr hēlios: see HELIOS]
helix (hi:´liks') pl. he´lix·es (-iz) or hel·i·ces (hel´i si:z') •n. 1 any spiral, as one lying in a single plane or, esp., one moving around a right circular cone or cylinder at a constant angle, as a screw or bolt thread does 2 Anat. the folded rim of cartilage around the outer ear 3 Archit. an ornamental spiral, as a volute on a Corinthian or Ionic capital 4 Zool. any of a genus (Helix) of spiral-shelled land gastropods, including the common, edible European snail (H. pomatia) [L, kind of ivy, spiral < Gr, a spiral < helissein, to turn around < IE base *wel-, to turn, twist > WALK]
hell (hel) •n. 1 [often H-] Bible the place where the spirits of the dead are: identified with SHEOL and HADES 2 [often H-] Theol. a) a state or place of woe and anguish, arrived at by the wicked after death; specif., esp. in Christian theology, the state or place of total and final separation from God and so of eternal misery and suffering, arrived at by those who die unrepentant in grave sin b) popularly, this state or place as the abode of Satan and of all other devils and of all the damned c) those in hell d) the powers of hell, evil, etc. 3 any place or condition of evil, pain, disorder, cruelty, etc. 4 [Colloq.] a) any extremely disagreeable, unsettling, or punishing treatment or experience, or the cause or source of this b) devilish spirits or excitement {full of hell} •vi. [Slang] to live or act in a reckless or dissolute way: often with around As profanity hell is widely used, both alone and in various combinations, as an interjection expressing irritation, anger, etc. (Ex.: hell, no!), and in various ways, esp. after in or the, to express surprise, disbelief, disgust, etc. (Ex.: who in hell is he? what the hell!) Æ be hell on [Slang] 1 to be very difficult or painful for 2 to be very strict or severe with 3 to be very destructive or damaging to catch (or get) hell [Slang] to receive a severe scolding, punishment, etc. for the hell of it [Slang] for no serious reason Æ hell of a very much of a: sometimes written helluva [ME helle < OE hel (akin to Ger hölle, hell & ON Hel, the underworld goddess, HEL) < base of helan, to cover, hide < IE base *el-, to hide, cover up > L celare, to hide]
he'll (hi:l; unstressed, hil, il) 1 he will 2 he shall
Hell Gate narrow channel of the East River, N.Y., between Manhattan & Queens [< Du Helle Gat, hell strait: from the whirlpools formerly there]
hell week a week during which pledges to a fraternity or sorority are subjected to hazing before initiation
hellacious (he lei´shэs) •adj. [Slang] very great, bad, unbearable, etc. [prob. fanciful formation from HELL OF A (see HELL) + -ACIOUS]
Helladic (hэ læd´ik, he-) •adj. designating or of the Bronze Age cultures (c. 3000-c. 1100 B.C.) of the peoples living on or around the Greek peninsula
Hellas (hel´эs) 1 in ancient times, Greece, including the islands & colonies 2 modern Gr. name of GREECE
hellbender (hel´ben'dэr) •n. a giant, primitive, edible salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, family Cryptobranchidae) with lidless eyes, found esp. in the Ohio valley
hellbent (hel´bent') •adj. [Slang] 1 firmly resolved or recklessly determined 2 moving fast or recklessly
hellbox (-bäks') •n. Printing a box for broken or discarded type
hellbroth (-bröθ') •n. a brew for use in black magic
hellcat (-kæt') •n. 1 a witch 2 an evil, spiteful, bad-tempered woman
helldiver (-dai'vэr) •n. PIED-BILLED GREBE
Helle (hel´i:) Gr. Legend a girl who, while fleeing with her brother on a ram with golden fleece, falls off and drowns in the Hellespont [L < Gr Hellē]
hellebore (hel´э bör') •n. 1 any of a genus (Helleborus) of poisonous, winter-blooming plants of the buttercup family, with buttercuplike flowers of various colors: the rhizomes of a black European species (H. niger) were formerly used as a heart stimulant and cathartic 2 any of a genus (Veratrum) of poisonous plants of the lily family: the white hellebore (V. album) and the false hellebore (V. viride) were formerly used as cathartics, etc. [altered (after Gr) < ME ellebore < OFr < L helleborus < Gr helleboros, orig. prob. plant eaten by fawns < hellos, var. of ellos, fawn < base of elaphos, deer + bora, food (of beasts): for IE base see ELK & VORACIOUS]
Hellen (hel´эn) Gr. Legend the ancestor of the Hellenes, a son of Deucalion and Pyrrha [L < Gr Hellēn]
Hellene (hel´i:n') •n. a Greek [Gr Hellēn]
Hellenic (hэ len´ik, he-; -li:´nik) •adj. 1 of the Hellenes; Greek 2 of the history, language, or culture of the ancient Greeks; specif., from the late 8th century B.C. to the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.) •n. 1 the language of ancient Greece 2 old term for GREEK (n. 2) [Gr Hellēnikos < Hellēnes, the Greeks]
Hellenism (hel´эn iz'эm) •n. 1 a Greek phrase, idiom, or custom 2 the character, thought, culture, or ethical system of ancient Greece 3 adoption of the Greek language, customs, etc. [Gr Hellēnismos, imitation of the Greeks < Hellēnizein, to speak Greek]
Hellenist (-ist) •n. 1 a non-Greek, esp. a Jew of the Hellenistic period, who adopted the Greek language, customs, etc. 2 a specialist or expert in Greek language and learning [Gr Hellēnistēs, imitator of the Greeks < Hellēnizein, to speak Greek]
Hellenistic (hel'эn is´tik) •adj. 1 of or characteristic of Hellenists or Hellenism 2 of Greek history, language, and culture after the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.) Hel'len·is´ti·cal·ly •adv.
Hellenize (hel´эn aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to make or become Greek or Hellenistic, as in customs, ideals, form, or language Hel'len·i·za´tion •n. Hel´len·iz'er •n. [Gr Hellēnizein < Hellēnes, the Greeks]
heller¹ (hel´эr) •n. [Slang] a person who is noisy, wild, reckless, etc.
heller² (hel´эr) pl. hel´ler •n. 1 [Historical] a German copper coin or an Austrian bronze coin 2 HALER [Ger < MHG haller, short for Haller pfenninc, penny of Hall: first coined (c. 1208) at Hall, Swabia]
helleri (hel´эr ai', -эr i:') •n. SWORDTAIL [from the species name (Xiphophorus) helleri, after C. Heller, 20th-c. aquarist]
Helles (hel´is), Cape S tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, at the entrance to the Dardanelles
Hellespont (hel´эs pänt') ancient name of DARDANELLES [Gr, lit., sea of Helle]
hellfire (hel´fair') •n. the fire, hence punishment, of hell [ME helle fir < OE hellefyr]
hellgrammite or hellgramite (hel´grэm ait') •n. the carnivorous, dark-brown, aquatic larva of the dobsonfly, often used as fish bait [< ?]
hellhole (hel´houl') •n. [Colloq.] any very unpleasant place
hellhound (-haund') •n. 1 a dog of hell, as Cerberus 2 a fiendish, evil person
hellion (hel´yэn) •n. [Colloq.] a person fond of deviltry; mischievous troublemaker; rascal [altered (infl. by HELL) < Scot dial. hallion, a low fellow < ? Fr haillon, rag < MHG hadel, var. of hader, rag, quarrel]
hellish (hel´ish) •adj. 1 of, from, or like hell 2 devilish; fiendish 3 [Colloq.] very unpleasant; detestable hell´ish·ly •adv. hell´ish·ness •n.
hellkite (hel´kait') •n. a fiendish, cruel, pitiless person [HELL + KITE (the bird)]
Hellman (hel´mэn), Lillian 1905-84; U.S. playwright
hello (he lou´, hэ lou´; hel´ou') •interj. an exclamation a) of greeting or of response, as in telephoning b) to attract attention c) of astonishment or surprise •n. pl. -los´ a saying or exclaiming of hello •vi. -loed´, -lo´ing to say or exclaim hello •vt. to say hello to [var. of HOLLO]
helm¹ (helm) •n., vt. archaic & old poet. var. of HELMET [ME < OE, protection, helmet, akin to Ger helm, helmet, OE helmian, to protect < IE base *el-, to cover, hide > HULL¹, L celare, to hide]
helm² (helm) •n. 1 a) the wheel or tiller by which a ship or boat is steered b) the complete steering gear, including the wheel or tiller, rudder, etc. 2 the control or leadership of an organization, government, etc. •vt. to guide; control; steer [ME helme < OE helma, akin to Ger helm, handle < IE *(s)kelmo- < base *(s)kel-, to cut > SHIELD, Gr skallein, to dig]
helmet (hel´mэt) •n. 1 a protective covering for the head; specif., a) the headpiece of ancient or medieval armor (see ARMOR, illus.) b) the metal head covering worn in modern warfare c) the rigid head covering with inner padding and often a wire face mask used in football, lacrosse, and hockey d) the mesh-faced mask used in fencing e) the headpiece of a diver's suit, equipped with air tubes, glass windows, etc. f) a fireman's protective hat g) a pith hat with a wide brim, worn as a sunshade in hot countries h) the rigid head covering worn by a motorcyclist i) HARD HAT 2 something suggesting such a headpiece in appearance or function, as a galea of a flower •vt. to cover or equip with a helmet hel´met·ed •adj. [OFr, dim. of helme, helmet < Frank *helm: for IE base see HELM¹]
Helmholtz (helm´hoults'), Her·mann Lud·wig Fer·di·nand von (heř´män lu:t´vikh feř´di nänt' fôn) 1821-94; Ger. physiologist & physicist
helminth (hel´minθ') •n. any worm or wormlike animal; esp., a worm parasite of the intestine, as the tapeworm, hookworm, or roundworm [Gr helmins (gen. helminthos), akin to eilein, to turn: for IE base see HELIX]
helminthiasis (hel'min θai´э sis) •n. a disease caused or characterized by parasitic worms in the body [ModL < Gr helminthiān, to suffer from worms: see HELMINTH & -IASIS]
helminthic (hel min´θik) •adj. 1 of, pertaining to, or caused by helminths 2 expelling or destroying helminths •n. a helminthic medicine; vermifuge
helminthology (hel'min θäl´э ji:) •n. the scientific study of helminths
helmsman (helmz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. the person at the helm; one who steers a ship or boat
Heloise (hel'ou i:z´, hel´ou i:z') a feminine name: see ELOISE
Héloïse (ei lô i:z´; E hel'э wi:z´) 1101-64; mistress &, later, wife of her teacher, Pierre Abélard
Helot (hel´эt) •n. 1 a member of the lowest class of serfs in ancient Sparta 2 [h-] any serf or slave [L Helotes, Hilotae, pl. < Gr Heilōtes, pl., taken as after Helos, town in Laconia whose inhabitants were enslaved by the Spartans, but < ? base of haliskesthai, to be captured < IE base *wel-, to tear, injure > L vellere, to pluck, tear away]
helotism (hel´эt iz'эm) •n. 1 the condition of a helot; serfdom or slavery 2 Biol. a form of symbiosis, as among some ants, in which one species dominates and uses workers of another species
helotry (hel´э tri:) •n. 1 helots as a class; serfs or slaves 2 serfdom or slavery
help (help) •vt. 1 to make things easier or better for (a person); aid; assist; specif., a) to give (one in need or trouble) something necessary, as relief, succor, money, etc. {to help the poor} b) to do part of the work of; ease or share the labor of {to help someone lift a load} c) to aid in getting (up, down, in, etc. or to, into, out of, etc.) {help her into the house} 2 to make it easier for (something) to exist, happen, develop, improve, etc.; specif., a) to make more effective, larger, more intense, etc.; aid the growth of; promote {a tax to help the schools} b) to cause improvement in; remedy; alleviate; relieve {a medicine that helps a cold} 3 a) to keep from; avoid {he can't help coughing} b) to stop, prevent, change, etc. {a misfortune that can't be helped} 4 to serve or wait on (a customer, client, etc.) •vi. 1 to give assistance; be cooperative, useful, or beneficial 2 to act as a waiter, clerk, servant, etc. •n. [ME < OE < base of the v.; in U.S., sense of servant, prob. a euphemism to avoid stigma of serve] 1 the act of helping or a thing that helps; aid; assistance 2 relief; cure; remedy Æ 3 a) a helper; esp., a hired helper, as a domestic servant, farmhand, etc. b) hired helpers; employees cannot help but cannot fail to; be compelled or obliged to cannot help oneself to be the victim of circumstances, a habit, etc. help oneself to 1 to serve or provide oneself with (food, etc.) 2 to take without asking or being given; steal help out to help in getting or doing something; help so help me (God) I swear SYN.—help is the simplest and strongest of these words meaning to supply another with whatever is necessary to accomplish his or her ends or relieve his or her wants; aid and assist are somewhat more formal and weaker, assist esp. implying a subordinate role in the helper and less need for help [she assisted him in his experiments]; succor suggests timely help to one in distress [to succor a besieged city] —ANT. hinder [ME helpen < OE helpan, akin to Ger helfen < IE base *elb-, *elp-, to help > early Lith sělbinos, to aid]
helper (help´эr) •n. a person or thing that helps; esp., an assisting worker who is more or less unskilled
helpful (help´fэl) •adj. giving help; of service; useful help´ful·ly •adv. help´ful·ness •n.
helping (help´iŋ) •n. 1 a giving of aid; assisting 2 a portion of food served to one person
helpless (help´lis) •adj. 1 not able to help oneself; weak 2 lacking help or protection 3 incompetent, ineffective, or powerless help´less·ly •adv. help´less·ness •n.
helpmate (help´meit') •n. a helpful companion; specif., a wife or, sometimes, a husband [altered < fol.]
helpmeet (-mi:t') •n. HELPMATE [mistakenly read as a single word in an help meet for him (Gen. 2:18): see HELP & MEET²]
Helsingør (hel'siŋ öř´) seaport in Denmark, on the Öresund, opposite Hälsingborg, Sweden: pop. 57,000
Helsinki (hel´siŋ ki:, hel siŋ´-) capital of Finland: seaport on the Gulf of Finland: pop. 485,000: Swed. name Hel·sing·fors (hel'siŋ fôřs´)
helter-skelter (hel´tэr skel´tэr) •adv. in haste and confusion; in a disorderly, hurried manner •adj. hurried and confused; disorderly •n. anything helter-skelter [arbitrary formation, suggesting confusion]
helve (helv) •n. the handle of a tool, esp. of an ax or hatchet •vt. helved, helv´ing to put a helve on; equip with a helve [ME helfe < OE, akin to MDu helf: for IE base see HALF]
Helvetia (hel vi:´shэ) 1 ancient Celtic country in central Europe, in what is now W Switzerland 2 Latin name of SWITZERLAND
Helvetian (-shэn) •adj. 1 of Helvetia or the Helvetii 2 Swiss •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Helvetia 2 a Swiss
Helvetic (hel vet´ik) •adj. HELVETIAN •n. a Swiss Protestant; adherent of Zwingli
Helvetii (hel vi:´shi: ai') •n.pl. the Celtic people who lived in ancient Helvetia [L]
Helvétius (el vei syüs´; E hel vi:´shi: эs), Claude A·dri·en (kloud å dři: æñ´) 1715-71; Fr. philosopher
hem- (hi:m, hem) combining form HEMO-: used before a vowel
hem¹ (hem) •n. 1 the border on a garment or piece of cloth, usually made by folding the edge and sewing it down 2 any border, edge, or margin •vt. hemmed, hem´ming to fold back the edge of and sew down; put a hem or hems on hem in (or around or about) 1 to encircle; surround 2 to confine or restrain Etymology [ME < OE, akin to MLowG ham, enclosed piece of land < IE base *kem-, to compress, impede > HAMPER¹]
hem² (hem: conventionalized pronun.) •interj., n. the sound made in clearing the throat •vi. hemmed, hem´ming 1 to make this sound, as in trying to get attention or in showing doubt 2 to make this sound, or grope about in speech, while searching for the right words: usually used in the phrase hem and haw
hema- (hi:´mэ, hem´э) combining form HEMO-
hemacytometer (hi:'mэ sai täm´эt er, hem'э-) •n. a device used to count the concentration of cells in body fluids, esp. the red and white cells in blood [prec. + CYTO- + -METER]
hemagglutinate (hi:'mэ glu:t´ªn eit', hem'э-) -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vt. to cause the clumping of red blood cells in he'mag·glu'ti·na´tion •n. [HEM- + AGGLUTINATE]
hemagglutinin (-glu:t´ªn in') •n. a substance, as an antibody, capable of causing hemagglutination
hemal (hi:´mэl) •adj. 1 having to do with the blood or blood vessels: also he´ma·tal 2 having to do with certain structures of the body near the heart and main blood vessels [HEM- + -AL]
he-man (hi:´mæn') •n. [Colloq.] a strong, virile man
hemangioma (hi: mæn'ji: ou´mэ) pl. -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) •n.or -mas a benign tumor, lesion, or birthmark consisting of dense clusters of blood vessels
hematein (hi:'mэ ti:´in, hem'э-) •n. a reddish-brown, crystalline dye, C16H12O6, obtained from logwood extracts by oxidation and used as a stain and indicator [< HEMAT(OXYLIN) + -IN¹]
hematic (hi: mæt´ik) •adj. of, filled with, or colored like blood [Gr haimatikos < haima, blood: see HEMO-]
hematin (hem´э tin, hi:´mэ-) •n. a dark-brown or blackish hydroxide of heme, C34H32N4O4·FeOH, obtained by the decomposition of hemoglobin [HEMAT(O)- + -IN¹]
hematinic (hem'э tin´ik, hi:'mэ-) •n. any substance that increases the amount of hemoglobin in the blood •adj. of or relating to hematin
hematite (hem´э tait', hi:´mэ-) •n. anhydrous ferric oxide, Fe2O3, an important iron ore: it is reddish in the earthy variety or black and crystalline hem'a·tit´ic (-tit´ik) •adj. [L haematites < Gr haimatitēs, lit., bloodlike, red iron ore < haima, blood: see HEMO-]
hemato- (hem´э tou, hi:´mэ-; -tэ) combining form blood {hematology} Also, before a vowel, hemat- Etymology [< Gr haima (gen. haimatos), blood: see HEMO-]
hematoblast (-blæst') •n. an immature blood cell hem'a·to·blas´tic •adj. [prec. + -BLAST]
hematocrit (hem´э tou krit', hi:´mэ-; hi mæt´э-) •n. 1 a small centrifuge or its calibrated tube used to determine the relative volumes of blood cells and fluid in blood 2 the proportion of red blood cells to a volume of blood measured by a hematocrit: also hematocrit reading [< HEMATO- + Gr kritēs, a judge < krinein, to separate: see HARVEST]
hematogenesis (hem'э tou jen´э sis, hi:'mэ-) •n. HEMATOPOIESIS hem'a·to·gen´ic (-jen´ik) or hem'a·to·ge·net´ic (-jэ net´ik) •adj.
hematogenous (-täj´э nэs) •adj. 1 forming blood 2 spread by the bloodstream, as bacteria
hematology (hi:'mэ täl´э ji:, hem'э-) •n. the study of the blood, blood-forming tissues, and blood diseases he'ma·to·log´ic (-tou läj´ik) or he'ma·to·log´i·cal •adj. he'ma·tol´o·gist •n. [HEMATO- + -LOGY]
hematoma (-tou´mэ) pl. -mas or -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) •n. a tumorlike collection of blood, usually clotted, located outside a blood vessel [ModL: see HEMAT(O)- & -OMA]
hematophagous (-täf´э gэs) •adj. feeding on blood [HEMATO- + -PHAGOUS]
hematopoiesis (hem'э tou'poi i:´sis, hi:'mэ-) •n. the production of blood cells by the blood-forming organs hem'a·to·poi·et´ic (-et´ik) •adj. [< HEMATO- + Gr poiēsis, a making: see POESY]
hematoxylin (hi:'mэ täk´sэ lin', hem'э-) •n. a colorless, crystalline compound, C16H14O6·3H2O, extracted from logwood and used as an indicator and a stain in microscopy: when oxidized it yields hematein dye [H(A)EMATOXYL(ON) + -IN¹]
hematozoon (hem'э tou zou´än', hi:'mэ-; -zo´эn) pl. -zo´a •n. any parasitic animal organism in the blood hem'a·to·zo´ic (-ik) or hem'a·to·zo´al •adj. [ModL: see HEMATO- & -ZOON]
hematuria (hi:'mэ tur´i: э, -tyur´-; hem'э-) •n. the presence of red blood cells in the urine [HEMAT(O)- + -URIA]
heme (hi:m) •n. the nonprotein, iron-containing pigment, C34H32N4O4Fe, that is a component part of hemoglobin, myoglobin, etc. [contr. < HEMATIN]
hemelytron (he mel´i trän') pl. -tra (-trэ) either of the forewings of hemipteran insects, having a thickened basal portion and a membranous end Also hem·el´y·trum (-trэm), pl. -tra (-trэ) •n. [ModL < HEM(I)- + ELYTRON]
hemeralopia (hem'эr э lou´pi: э) •n. a defect in the eye in which the vision is reduced in the daylight or in bright light: cf. NYCTALOPIA hem'er·a·lop´ic (-läp´ik) •adj. [ModL < Gr hēmeralōps, day blindness (< hēmera, day + alaos, blind + ōps, EYE) + -IA]
hemi- (hem´i, -э, -i:) prefix meaning half {hemisphere} [Gr hēmi- < IE *sēmi- > Sans sāmí-, L semi-]
-hemia (hi:´mi: э) combining form -EMIA [var. of -EMIA]
hemic (hi:´mik, hem´ik) •adj. of the blood [HEM- + -IC]
hemicellulose (hem'i sel´yu: lous', -yэ-) •n. a polysaccharide with less than 150 polymer units of various sugars, that is extracted from plants, esp. woody and corn fiber, by dilute alkalies
hemichordate (-kör´deit') •adj. of or pertaining to a phylum (Hemichordata) of wormlike marine animals with visceral clefts and primitive nervous and circulatory systems •n. any hemichordate animal [HEMI- + CHORDATE]
hemicrania (-krei´ni: э) •n. headache in only one side of the head, as in migraine [LL < Gr hēmikrania < hēmi-, half + kranion, skull]
hemicycle (hem´i sai'kэl) •n. 1 a half circle 2 a semicircular room, wall, etc. [Fr hémicycle < L hemicyclium < Gr hēmikyklion: see HEMI- & CYCLE]
hemidemisemiquaver (hem'i dem'i sem´i kwei' vэr) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] SIXTY-FOURTH NOTE [HEMI- + DEMISEMIQUAVER]
hemielytron (-el´i trän') •n. HEMELYTRON
hemihedral (hem'i hi:´drэl) •adj. having half the number of faces required for complete symmetry: said of a crystal [HEMI- + -HEDRAL]
hemihydrate (-hai´dreit') •n. a hydrate with a two-to-one ratio of molecules of substance to molecules of water
hemimetabolous (-mэ tæb´э lэs) •adj. designating or of a group of insect orders in which the juvenile stages are aquatic without a pupal stage, and in which the young differ considerably from the adults Also hem'i·met'a·bol´ic (-met'э bäl´ik) hem'i·me·tab´o·lism •n.
hemimorphic (-mör´fik) •adj. designating a crystal with unlike faces at the ends of the same axis [HEMI- + -MORPHIC]