Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Hĕrn, n. p. 623The same as HERON. See HERON. I stood beside the pool from whence ascended... A stately hern. Trench.Hĕrn'hill, n. p. 623A plant. Ainsworth.Hĕr'ni-ă, n. p. 623(Surg.) A tumor of some part, which has escaped from its natural cavity by some aperture, and projects externally; as, hernia of the brain, of the thorax, of the abdomen. That of the abdomen is most…Hér'ni-al, a. p. 623Pertaining to, or connected with, hernia.Hĕrn'shaw, n. p. 623A heronshaw or heron. See HANDSAW. [Obs.] Spenser.Hē'ro, n. p. 623A man of distinguished valor, intrepidity, or enterprise in danger; a prominent or central personage in any remarkable action or event; hence, a great, illustrious, or extraordinary person. 2. The…He-rō'di-an, n. p. 623(Jewish Hist.) One of a party among the Jews, taking their name from Herod, and represented by the evangelists Matthew and Mark as acting in concert with the Pharisees in endeavoring to obtain from…Hē'rō-ess, n. p. 623A heroine. [Obs.] Dryden.He-rō'ic, a. p. 623Pertaining to, or like, a hero or heroes; as, heroic valor. 2. Becoming a hero; bold; daring; illustrious; as, heroic action; heroic enterprises. Heroic age, the age when the heroes, or those called…He-rō'ie-al, a. p. 623The same as HEROIC. [Rare.]He-rō'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 623In the manner of a hero; with valor; bravely; courageously; intrepidly; as, the town was heroically defended.Hĕ/ro-i-cŏm'ic or Hĕ/ro-i-cŏm'ic-al, a. p. 623Consisting of the heroic and the ludicrous; denoting the high burlesque; as, a heroi-comic poem.Hĕr'o-ine, n. p. 623A female hero; a woman of a brave spirit. 2. The principal female person who figures in a remarkable action, or as the subject of a poem or story.Hĕr'o-ism, n. p. 623The qualities of a hero; bravery; courage; intrepidity. Heroism is the self-devotion of genius manifesting itself in action. Hare. Syn.—HEROISM, COURAGE, FORTITUDE, BRAVERY, VALOR, INTREPIDITY…Hēr'on, n. p. 624(Ornith.) A wading bird of the genus Ardea (A. cinerea), with long legs and neck, and having the claw of the middle toe toothed. It is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly…Hĕr'on-ry, n. p. 624A place where herons breed.Hēr'on's-bill, n. p. 624(Bot.) A plant of the genus Erodium;—so called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the head and breast of the heron.Hĕr'on-shaw, n. p. 624A heron; a hernshaw.Hē'ro-ōl'o-gist, n. p. 624One who treats of heroes. [Rare.] Warton.Hē'ro-shĭp, n. p. 624The character of a hero. Cooper.Hēr'pēs, n. p. 624(Med.) An eruption of the skin, taking various names, according to its form, or the part affected; especially, an eruption of vesicles in small distinct clusters, accompanied with itching or…Her-pĕt'ic, a. p. 624Pertaining to the herpes or cutaneous eruptions; resembling the herpes, or partaking of its nature; as, herpetic eruptions.Her·pĕt'o-lŏg'ie or Her·pĕt'o-lŏg'ie-al, a. p. 624Pertaining to herpetology.Hēr·pe-tōl'o-ǵist, n. p. 624A person versed in herpetology, or the natural history of reptiles.Hĕr·pe-tōl'o·ǵy, n. p. 624The natural history or description of reptiles, including oviparous quadrupeds, as the crocodile, frog, and tortoise, and serpents.Hĕr'pe-tŏn, n. p. 624(Zool.) A genus of serpents allied to Eryx, and characterized by two soft prominences covered with scales, which are appended to the muzzle. Brande.Hĕr'ring, n. p. 624(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Clupea (C. harengus). Herrings move in vast shoals, coming from high northern latitudes in the spring, to the shores of Europe and America, where they are taken and…Hĕr'ring-bōne, a. p. 624Pertaining to, or like, the spine of a herring; especially characterized by an arrangement of work in rows of parallel lines, which in the alternate rows slope in different directions. Herring-bone…Herrn'hut-er, n. p. 624(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect established, about 1722, by Nicholas Lewis, count of Zinzendorf; — called also Moravians.Hērs, pron. p. 624Belonging to her; of her; — the form of the feminine possessive pronoun which is used when the word denoting the thing possessed is omitted; as, this house is hers, that is, this is the house of her.…Hĕr'sal, n. p. 624Rehearsal. [Obs.] Spenser.Hĕr'schel, n. p. 624(Astron.) A planet discovered by Dr. Herschel, in 1781, first called Georgium Sidus, in honor of King George III., afterward named Herschel, in honor of the discoverer, but now called Uranus.Hērse, n. p. 624(Fort.) (a.) A lattice or portcullis in the form of a harrow, set with iron spikes, hung by a rope fastened to an axis, and let down to obstruct passage through a gateway. (b.) A harrow used instead…Hērse, v. t. p. 624To put on or in a herse. Chapman. 2. To carry to the grave.Her-self', pron. p. 624An emphasized form of the third person feminine pronoun, used as a subject with she; as, she herself will bear the blame; — used alone in the predicate, either in the nominative or objective case…Hĕr'sil-lon, n. p. 624(Mil.) A plank or beam, whose sides are set with spikes or nails, to incommode and retard the march of an enemy; a form of the herse.Hē'ry, v. t. p. 624To regard as holy; to worship; to honor. [Obs.] Spenser.Hē's'i-tan-cy, n. p. 624The act of hesitating or doubting; slowness in forming decisions; doubt. 2. The action or manner of one who hesitates; indecisive deliberation; vacillation.Hĕs'i-tant, a. p. 624Not ready in deciding or acting; hesitating. 2. Lacking readiness of speech.Hē'si-tant-ly, adv. p. 624With hesitancy or doubt.Hĕs'i-tāte, v. i. p. 624To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be doubtful as to fact, principle, or determination; to be in suspense or uncertainty; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men…Hĕs'i-tāte, v. t. p. 624To be uncertain about; to be undecided in reference to; also, to utter with hesitation; to stammer out. [Obs. and rare.] “Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.” Pope.Hĕs'i-tā'ting-ly, adv. p. 624With hesitation or doubt.Hē'si-tā'tion, n. p. 624The act of hesitating; suspension of opinion or action; doubt; vacillation. 2. A stopping in speech; intermission between words; stammering.Hēs'per, n. p. 624The evening star; Hesperus.Hes-pē'ri-an, a. p. 624Western; situated at the west; occidental.Hes-pē'rī-an, n. p. 624An inhabitant of a western country. J. Barlow.Hĕs-pĕr'ĭ-dēs, n. pl. p. 624(Myth.) The daughters of Hesperus, brother of Atlas, who had orchards in Africa producing golden fruit, which was carried away by Hercules, who slew the watchful dragon which guarded it.Hĕs'pe-rĭs, n. p. 624(Bot.) A genus of plants; rocket:—so called from the increased fragrance of the flowers toward evening.Hĕs'pe-rŭs, n. p. 624The evening star, especially Venus; Hesper.Hĕs'sian, a. p. 624(Geog.) Of, or relating to, Hesse, in Germany. Hessian fly (Entom.), a small, two-winged fly, or midge, nearly black, very destructive to young wheat;—so called from the opinion that it was brought…Hĕs'sian, n. p. 624(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Hesse.Hĕst, n. p. 624Command; precept; injunction; order. Let him that yields obey the victor’s hest. Fairfax. [Obsolete, but retained in the compound behest.]Hĕs'tern or Hes-tẽr'nal, a. p. 624Pertaining to yesterday. [Obs.]Hĕs'y-chăst, n. p. 624A Quietist. Bib. Repository.Hĕtch'el, v. t. p. 624Same as HATCHEL, q. v.Hĕt'er-ärch'y, n. p. 624The government of an alien. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Hĕt'er-o-cär'poŭs, a. p. 624(Bot.) Bearing fruit of two kinds or forms, as in the genus Amphicarpæa. Gray.Hĕt'er-o-çẽr'cal, a. p. 624(Compar. Anat.) Having the vertebral column continued into the upper lobe of the tail, which, on this account, is larger than the lower;—said of certain species of fish. Agassiz.Hĕt'er-ŏch'ro-moŭs, a. p. 624(Bot.) Having the central florets of a flower-head of a different color from those of the circumference.