Hēa'vy1, a.
(hĕv'ÿ), a. [compar. HEAVIER; superl. HEAVIEST.] [A-S. hefíg, hīfig, lifted with labor, from hefan, hebban, to lift, heave; O. H. Ger. hebig, herig, M. H. Ger. hebec, Icel. höförr, höfuðr.]
Sense 1. Heaved or lifted with labor, tending strongly to the center of attraction; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in size, extent, or quantity; bulky; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; often implying strength; as, a heavy timber; a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.
Sense 2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; cumbersome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; as, heavy news, taxes, expenses, yokes, enterprises, undertakings, &c.
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod. I. Sam. v. 6.
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make. Shak.
Sense 3. Laden with that which is weighty; incumbered; burdened; bowed down; — either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment, stupidity, and the like.
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were. Chapman.
He found his men heavy and laden with booty. Bacon.
A light wife makes a heavy husband. Shak.
Sense 4. Slow; sluggish; dilatory; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, eyes, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book. “While the heavy plowman snores.” Shak. “Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind.” Dryden.
Neither is his ear heavy, that it can not hear. Isa. lix. 1.
Sense 5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like.
Sense 6. Loud, low, or deep; — said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more. Byron.
Sense 7. Not properly raised or made light; clammy; solid; — said of bread, and the like.
Sense 8. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; — said of food.
Sense 9. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; — said of earth; as, a heavy soil, road, and the like.
Sense 10. Having much body or strength; — said of wines, or other liquors.
Sense 11. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; — said of the sky.
Sense 12. With child; pregnant. [Rare.]
Heavy fire. (Mil.) See FIRE. — Heavy metal, large guns carrying balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns.
Heavy is used in composition to form many words which need no special explanation; as, heavy-built, heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, heavy-hearted, heavy-laden, and others.