Heathen, hē′thn, n. an inhabitant of an unchristian country, one neither Christian, Jewish, nor Mohammedan: (B.) the Gentiles: a pagan: an irreligious person.—adj. pagan, irreligious.—n. Hea′thendom, the condition of a heathen: those regions of the world where heathenism prevails.—v.t. Hea′thenise, to make heathen or heathenish.—adj. Hea′thenish, relating to the heathen: rude: uncivilised: cruel.—adv. Hea′thenishly.—ns. Hea′thenishness; Hea′thenism, the religious system of the heathens: paganism: barbarism; Hea′thenry, heathenism: heathendom. [A.S. hǽðen, a heathen; Dut. heiden.]
Heather, heth′ėr, n. the Scotch name for the native species of the Linnæan genus Erica, called in the north of England Ling, esp. Erica (now Calluna) vulgaris, Common Heather, and Erica cinerea, Fine-leaved Heath or Lesser Bell-heather.—adj. of the colour of heather.—ns. Heath′er-ale, a famous liquor traditionally brewed in Scotland from the bells of heather; Heath′er-bell, a name given to Erica tetralix (or specially to its blossom), and sometimes also to Erica cinerea.—adj. Heath′ery, of or pertaining to heather.—Set the heather on fire, to create a disturbance; Take to the heather, to become an outlaw. [Usually derived from heath.]
Heaume, hōm, n. (arch.) a massive helmet.
Heave, hēv, v.t. to lift up: to throw upward: to draw in any direction, as by a windlass: to cause to swell: to force from the breast: (geol.) to move away or displace (a vein or stratum).—v.i. to be raised: to rise and fall: to try to vomit:—pr.p. heav′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. heaved or (naut.) hōve.—n. an effort upward: a throw: a swelling: an effort to vomit: broken wind in horses.—ns. Heave′-off′ering, a voluntary Jewish offering lifted up before the Lord by the priest; Heav′er, one who, or that which, heaves; Heaves, a disease in horses; Heave′-shoul′der, the shoulder of an animal elevated in sacrifice; Heav′ing, a rising: swell: (Shak.) panting.—Heave ho! an exclamation used by sailors in putting forth exertion, as in heaving the anchor; Heave in sight, to come into view; Heave to, to bring a vessel to a stand-still, to make her lie to. [A.S. hebban, pa.t. hóf, pa.p. hafen; Ger. heben.]
Heaven, hev′n, n. the arch of sky overhanging the earth: the air: a zone or region: a very great and indefinite height: the dwelling-place of the Deity and the blessed: the Deity as inhabiting heaven: supreme happiness.—adjs. Heav′en-born, descended from heaven; Heav′en-bred (Shak.), bred or produced in heaven; Heav′en-direct′ed, pointing to the sky: divinely guided; Heav′en-fall′en (Milt.), fallen from heaven, having rebelled against God; Heav′en-gift′ed, granted by heaven; Heav′en-kiss′ing (Shak.), kissing or touching, as it were, the sky.—n. Heav′enliness.—adj. Heav′enly, of or inhabiting heaven: celestial: pure: supremely blessed: very excellent.—adv. in a manner like that of heaven: by the influence of heaven.—adj. Heav′enly-mind′ed, having the mind placed upon heavenly things: pure.—n. Heav′enly-mind′edness.—advs. Heav′enward, Heav′enwards, toward or in the direction of heaven.—Heaven of heavens (B.), the highest of the heavens, the abode and seat of God; In the seventh heaven, in a state of the most exalted happiness—from the system of the Cabbalists, who divided the heavens into seven in an ascending scale of happiness up to the abode of God. [A.S. heofon; not to be conn. with heave.]
Heavy, hev′i, adj. weighty: not easy to bear: oppressive: afflicted: inactive: dull, lacking brightness and interest: inclined to slumber: violent: loud: not easily digested, as food: miry, as soil: having strength, as liquor: dark with clouds: gloomy: expensive: (B.) sad: (theat.) pertaining to the representation of grave or serious parts.—adv. Heav′ily.—n. Heav′iness.—adjs. Heav′y-armed, bearing heavy armour or arms; Heav′y-hand′ed, clumsy, awkward: oppressive; Heav′y-head′ed, having a heavy or large head: dull, stupid, drowsy; Heav′y-heart′ed, weighed down with grief; Heav′y-lād′en, laden with a heavy burden.—n. Heav′y-spar, native sulphate of barium, barytes.—Heavy marching order, the condition of troops fully equipped for field service; Heavy metal, guns or shot of large size: great influence or power; Heavy-weight, one beyond the average weight, esp. in sporting phrase, one placed highest in the ascending scale, feather-weight, light-weight, middle-weight, heavy-weight; Heavy wet, a drink of strong ale or ale and porter mixed.—The heavies (mil.), the heavy cavalry: those who play heavy parts. [A.S. hefig—hebban, to heave; Old High Ger. hebîg.]
Hebdomadal, heb-dom′a-dal, adj. occurring every seven days: weekly—also Hebdom′adary.—n. Heb′domad, the number seven, a group of seven things, a week: in some Gnostic systems, a group of superhuman beings, angels, or divine emanations, the sphere of the Demiurge lower than the ogdoad—from the idea of the seven planets.—adv. Hebdom′adally, from week to week.—n. Hebdom′adary, a member of a chapter or convent who officiates in the choir, &c., on a certain week.—Hebdomadal Council, a board which practically manages the business of the university of Oxford, usually meeting weekly. [L. hebdomadalis—Gr. hebdomas, a period of seven days—hepta, seven.]
Hebe, hē′bē, n. a personification of youth and spring, from the name of the daughter of Zeus and Hera, who was cup-bearer of Olympus.
Heben, heb′n, n. and adj. (Spens.) ebony.
Hebenon, heb′e-non, n. (Shak.) a poisonous juice. [Perh. ebony, or a corr. of henbane.]