Heroicness

He*ro"ic*ness (?), n. Heroism. [R.] W. Montagu.

Heroicomic, Heroicomical

He`ro*i*com"ic (?), He`ro*i*com"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. héro\'8bcomigue. See Heroic, and Comic.] Combining the heroic and the ludicrous; denoting high burlesque; as, a heroicomic poem.
Heroine
Her"o*ine (?), n. [F. héro\'8bne, L. heroina, Gr. , fem. of . See Hero.]
1. A woman of an heroic spirit.
The heroine assumed the woman's place. Dryden.

2. The principal female person who figures in a remarkable action, or as the subject of a poem or story.
Heroism
Her"o*ism (?; 277), n. [F. héro\'8bsme.] The qualities characteristic of a hero, as courage, bravery, fortitude, unselfishness, etc.; the display of such qualities.
Heroism is the self-devotion of genius manifesting itself in action. Hare.
Syn. -- Heroism, Courage, Fortitude, Bravery, Valor, Intrepidity, Gallantry. Courage is generic, denoting fearlessness or defiance of danger; fortitude is passive courage, the habit of bearing up nobly under trials, danger, and sufferings; bravery is courage displayed in daring acts; valor is courage in battle or other conflicts with living opponents; intrepidity is firm courage, which shrinks not amid the most appalling dangers; gallantry is adventurous courage, dashing into the thickest of the fight. Heroism may call into exercise all these modifications of courage. It is a contempt of danger, not from ignorance or inconsiderate levity, but from a noble devotion to some great cause, and a just confidence of being able to meet danger in the spirit of such a cause. Cf. Courage.
Heron
Her"on (?), n. [OE. heiroun, heroun, heron, hern, OF. hairon, F. héron, OHG. heigir; cf. Icel. hegri, Dan. heire, Sw. häger, and also G. häher jay, jackdaw, OHG. hehara, higere, woodpecker, magpie, D. reiger heron, G. reiher, AS. hr&amac;gra. Cf. Aigret, Egret.] (Zoöl.) Any wading bird of the genus Ardea and allied genera, of the family Ardeidæ. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron (Ardea cinerea) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons. &hand; There are several common American species; as, the great blue heron (Ardea herodias); the little blue (A. cœrulea); the green (A. virescens); the snowy (A. candidissima); the night heron or qua-bird (Nycticorax nycticorax). The plumed herons are called egrets. Heron's bill (Bot.), a plant of the genus Erodium; -- so called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the head and beak of the heron.
Heroner
Her"on*er (?), n. A hawk used in hunting the heron. Heroner and falcon." Chaucer.
Heronry
Her"on*ry (?), n. A place where herons breed.
Heronsew
Her"on*sew (?), n. A heronshaw. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Heronshaw
Her"on*shaw (?), n. [OF. heroncel, dim. of héron. See Heron.] (Zoöl.) A heron. [Written variously hernshaw, harnsey, etc.]
Heroölogist
He`ro*öl"o*gist (?), n. [Gr. + discourse.] One who treats of heroes. [R.] T. Warton.
Heroship
He"ro*ship (?), n. The character or personality of a hero. Three years of heroship." Cowper.
Herpes
Her"pes (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. , fr. to creep.] (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 tingling, including shingles, ringworm, and the like; -- so called from its tendency to creep or spread from one part of the skin to another.
Herpetic
Her*pet"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. herpétique.] Pertaining to, or resembling, the herpes; partaking of the nature of herpes; as, herpetic eruptions.
Herpetism
Her"pe*tism (?), n. [See Herpes.] (Med.) See Dartrous diathesis, under Dartrous.
Herpetologic, Herpetological
Her*pet`o*log"ic (?), Her*pet`o*log"ic*al (?), a. Pertaining to herpetology.
Herpetologist
Her`pe*tol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in herpetology, or the natural history of reptiles.
Herpetology
Her`pe*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Written also, but less properly, erpetology.] [Gr. a creeping thing, reptile (fr. to creep) + -logy: cf. F. herpétologie.] The natural history of reptiles; that branch of zoölogy which relates to reptiles, including their structure, classification, and habits.
Herpetotomist
Her`pe*tot"o*mist (?), n. One who dissects, or studies the anatomy of, reptiles.
Herpetotomy
Her`pe*tot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. a reptile + to cut.] The anatomy or dissection of reptiles.
Herr
Herr (?), n. A title of respect given to gentlemen in Germany, equivalent to the English Mister.
Herring
Her"ring (?), n. [OE. hering, AS. hæring; akin to D. haring, G. häring, hering, OHG. haring, hering, and prob. to AS. here army, and so called because they commonly move in large numbers. Cf. Harry.] (Zoöl.) One of various species of fishes of the genus Clupea, and allied genera, esp. the common round or English herring (C. harengus) of the North Atlantic. Herrings move in vast schools, coming in spring to the shores of Europe and America, where they are salted and smoked in great quantities. Herring gull (Zoöl.), a large gull which feeds in part upon herrings; esp., Larus argentatus in America, and L. cachinnans in England. See Gull. -- Herring hog (Zoöl.), the common porpoise. -- King of the herrings. (Zoöl.) (a) The chimæra (C. monstrosa) which follows the schools of herring. See Chimæra. (b) The opah.
Heringbone
He"ring*bone" (?), a. Pertaining 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. Herringbone stitch, a kind of cross-stitch in needlework, chiefly used in flannel. Simmonds.
Herrnhuter
Herrn"hut*er (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of the Moravians; -- so called from the settlement of Herrnhut (the Lord's watch) made, about 1722, by the Moravians at the invitation of Nicholas Lewis, count of Zinzendorf, upon his estate in the circle of Bautzen.
Hers
Hers (?), pron. See the Note under Her, prn.
Hersal
Her"sal (?), n. Rehearsal. [Obs.] Spenser.
Herschel
Her"schel (?), n. (Astron.) See Uranus.
Herschelian
Her*sche"li*an (?), a. Of or relating to Sir William Herschel; as, the Herschelian telescope.
Herse
Herse (?), n. [F. herse harrow, portcullis, OF. herce, LL. hercia, L. hirpex, gen. hirpicis, and irpex, gen. irpicis, harrow. The LL. hercia signifies also a kind of candlestick in the form of a harrow, having branches filled with lights, and placed at the head of graves or cenotaphs; whence herse came to be used for the grave, coffin, or chest containing the dead. Cf. Hearse.]
1. (Fort.) A kind of gate or portcullis, having iron bars, like a harrow, studded with iron spikes. It is hung above gateways so that it may be quickly lowered, to impede the advance of an enemy. Farrow.
2. See Hearse, a carriage for the dead.
3. A funeral ceremonial. [Obs.] Spenser.
Herse
Herse, v. t. Same as Hearse, v. t. Chapman.
Herself
Her*self" (?), pron.
1. An emphasized form of the third person feminine pronoun; -- used as a subject with she; as, she herself will bear the blame; also used alone in the predicate, either in the nominative or objective case; as, it is herself; she blames herself.
2. Her own proper, true, or real character; hence, her right, or sane, mind; as, the woman was deranged, but she is now herself again; she has come to herself. By herself, alone; apart; unaccompanied.
Hersillon
Her"sil*lon (?), n. [F., fr. herse a harrow. See Herse, n.] (Fort.) A beam with projecting spikes, used to make a breach impassable.
Hert
Hert (?), n. A hart. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Herte
Her"te (?), n. A heart. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Hertely
Her"te*ly, a. & adv. Hearty; heartily. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Hery
Her"y (?), v. t. [AS. herian.] To worship; to glorify; to praise. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Hesitancy
Hes"i*tan*cy (?), n. [L. haesitantia a stammering.]
1. The act of hesitating, or pausing to consider; slowness in deciding; vacillation; also, the manner of one who hesitates.
2. A stammering; a faltering in speech.
Hesitant
Hes"i*tant (?), a. [L. haesitans, p. pr. of haesitare: cf. F. hésitant. See Hesitate.]
1. Not prompt in deciding or acting; hesitating.
2. Unready in speech. Baxter.
Hesitantly
Hes"i*tant*ly, adv. With hesitancy or doubt.
Hesitate
Hes"i*tate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hesitated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hesitating.] [L. haesitatus, p. p. of haesitare, intens. fr. haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast. Cf. Aghast, Gaze, Adhere.]
1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment. Pope.
2. To stammer; to falter in speaking. Syn. -- To doubt; waver; scruple; deliberate; demur; falter; stammer.
Hesitate
Hes"i*tate, v. t. To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner. [Poetic & R.]
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. Pope.

Hesitatingly
Hes"i*ta`ting*ly, adv. With hesitation or doubt.
Hesitation
Hes`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. haesitatio: cf. F. hésitation.]
1. The act of hesitating; suspension of opinion or action; doubt; vacillation.
2. A faltering in speech; stammering. Swift.
Hesitative
Hes"i*ta*tive (?), a. Showing, or characterized by, hesitation.
[He said] in his mild, hesitative way. R. D. Blackmore.

Hesitatory
Hes"i*ta*to*ry (?), a. Hesitating. R. North.
Hesp
Hesp (?), n. [Cf. Icel. hespa a hasp, a wisp or skein. See Hasp.] A measure of two hanks of linen thread. [Scot.] [Written also hasp.] Knight.
Hesper
Hes"per (?), n. [See Hesperian.] The evening; Hesperus.
Hesperetin
Hes*per"e*tin (?), n. (Chem.) A white, crystalline substance having a sweetish taste, obtained by the decomposition of hesperidin, and regarded as a complex derivative of caffeic acid.
Hesperian
Hes*pe"ri*an (?), a. [L. hesperius, fr. hesperus the evening star, Gr. evening, the evening star. Cf. Vesper.] Western; being in the west; occidental. [Poetic] Milton.
Hesperian
Hes*pe"ri*an, n. A native or an inhabitant of a western country. [Poetic] J. Barlow.
Hesperian
Hes*pe"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a family of butterflies called Hesperidæ, or skippers. -- n. Any one of the numerous species of Hesperidæ; a skipper.
Hesperid
Hes"per*id (?), a. & n. (Zoöl.) Same as 3d Hesperian.
Hesperidene
Hes*per"i*dene (?), n. [See Hesperidium.] (Chem.) An isomeric variety of terpene from orange oil.
Hesperides
Hes*per"i*des (?), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. .]
1. (Class. Myth.) The daughters of Hesperus, or Night (brother of Atlas), and fabled possessors of a garden producing golden apples, in Africa, at the western extremity of the known world. To slay the guarding dragon and get some of these apples was one of the labors of Hercules. Called also Atlantides.
2. The garden producing the golden apples.
It not love a Hercules, Still climbing trees in the Hesperides? Shak.

Hesperidin
Hes*per"i*din (?), n. [See Hesperidium.] (Chem.) A glucoside found in ripe and unripe fruit (as the orange), and extracted as a white crystalline substance.
Hesperidium
Hes`pe*rid"i*um (?), n. [NL. So called in allusion to the golden apples of the Hesperides. See Hesperides.] (Bot.) A large berry with a thick rind, as a lemon or an orange.
Hesperornis
Hes`pe*ror"nis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. western + , , a bird.] (Paleon.) A genus of large, extinct, wingless birds from the Cretaceous deposits of Kansas, belonging to the Odontornithes. They had teeth, and were essentially carnivorous swimming ostriches. Several species are known. See Illust. in Append.
Hesperus
Hes"pe*rus (?), n. [L. See Hesper.]
1. Venus when she is the evening star; Hesper.
2. Evening. [Poetic]
The Sun was sunk, and after him the Star Of Hesperus. Milton.

Hessian
Hes"sian (?), a. Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians. Hessian boots, ∨ Hessians, boot of a kind worn in England, in the early part of the nineteenth century, tasseled in front. Thackeray. -- Hessian cloth, ∨ Hessians, a coarse hempen cloth for sacking. -- Hessian crucible. See under Crucible. -- Hessian fly (Zoöl.), a small dipterous fly or midge (Cecidomyia destructor). Its larvæ live between the base of the lower leaves and the stalk of wheat, and are very destructive to young wheat; -- so called from the erroneous idea that it was brought into America by the Hessian troops, during the Revolution.
Hessian
Hes"sian, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Hesse.
2. A mercenary or venal person. [U. S.] &hand; This use is a relic of the patriot hatred of the Hessian mercenaries who served with the British troops in the Revolutionary War.
3. pl. See Hessian boots and cloth, under Hessian, a.
Hessite
Hess"ite (?), n. [After H. Hess.] (Min.) A lead-gray sectile mineral. It is a telluride of silver.
Hest
Hest (?), n. [AS. hs, fr. htan to call, bid. See Hight, and cf. Behest.] Command; precept; injunction. [Archaic] See Behest. At thy hest." Shak.
Let him that yields obey the victor's hest. Fairfax.

Yet I thy hest will all perform, at full. Tennyson.

Hestern, Hesternal
Hes"tern (?), Hes*ter"nal (?), a. [L. hesternus; akin to heri yesterday.] Pertaining to yesterday. [Obs.] See Yester, a. Ld. Lytton.
Hesychast
Hes"y*chast (?), n. [Gr. hermit, fr. to be still or quiet, fr. still, calm.] One of a mystical sect of the Greek Church in the fourteenth century; a quietist. Brande & C.
Hetairism, Hetarism
He*tair"ism (?), Het"a*rism (?), n. [Gr. a companion, a concubine, fem. of a comrade.] A supposed primitive state of society, in which all the women of a tribe were held in common. H. Spencer. -- Het`a*ris"tic (#), a.
Hetchel
Hetch"el (?), v. t. Same as Hatchel.
Hete
Hete (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Hete, later Het.] Variant of Hote. [Obs.]
But one avow to greate God I hete. Chaucer.

Heteracanth
Het"er*a*canth (?), a. [Hetero- + Gr. a spine.] (Zoöl.) Having the spines of the dorsal fin unsymmetrical, or thickened alternately on the right and left sides.
Heterarchy
Het"er*arch`y (?), n. [Hetero- + -archy.] The government of an alien. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Heterauxesis
Het`e*raux*e"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. the other + growth.] (Bot.) Unequal growth of a cell, or of a part of a plant.
Hetero-
Het"er*o- (?). [Gr. "e`teros other.] A combining form signifying other, other than usual, different; as, heteroclite, heterodox, heterogamous.
Heterocarpism
Het`er*o*car"pism (?), n. [Hetero- + Gr. fruit.] (Bot.) The power of producing two kinds of reproductive bodies, as in Amphicarpæa, in which besides the usual pods, there are others underground.
Heterocarpous
Het`er*o*car"pous (?), a. (Bot.) Characterized by heterocarpism.
Hetercephalous
Het`er*ceph"a*lous (?), a. [Hetero- + Gr. head.] (Bot.) Bearing two kinds of heads or capitula; -- said of certain composite plants.
Heterocera
Het`e*roc"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. other + horn.] (Zoöl.) A division of Lepidoptera, including the moths, and hawk moths, which have the antennæ variable in form.
Heterocercal
Het`er*o*cer"cal (?), a. [Hetero- + Gr. tail.] (Anat.) Having the vertebral column evidently continued into the upper lobe of the tail, which is usually longer than the lower one, as in sharks.