Hour, n.
(our), n. [Lat. hōra, Gr. ὥρα, originally a definite space of time, fixed by natural laws; hence, in Greek, a season, the time of the day, an hour; Fr. heure, O. Fr. hore, houre, Pr. hora, ora, Sp. & Pg. hora, It. ora; whence Ger. uhr, clock, watch, hour.]
Sense 1. The twenty-fourth part of a day; sixty minutes.
Sense 2. The time of the day, as expressed in hours, minutes, &c., and indicated by a timepiece; as, what is the hour? at what hour shall we meet?
Sense 3. Fixed or appointed time; conjuncture; a time or occasion; as, it was the hour of peril. “His last hour of unrepenting breath.” Dryden.
Sense 4. (pl.) Certain prayers in the Roman Catholic church, to be repeated at stated times of the day, as matins and vespers.
Sense 5. (pl.) (Myth.) Divinities, regarded as the goddesses of the seasons or of the hours of the day.
Lo! where the rosy-bosomed Hours, Fair Venus’ train, appear. Gray.
Sidereal hour, the twenty-fourth part of a sidereal day. — Solar hour, the twenty-fourth part of a solar day. — To keep good hours, to be at home in good season; not to be abroad late, or after the usual hours of retiring to rest.