Heraclean, Heracleian, her-a-klē′an, adj. pertaining to Hercules.—adj. Heraclī′dan, Heraclei′dan, pertaining to the Heracleidæ or descendants of Heracles (Hercules), the aristocracy of Sparta.—n. Heraclid′, one claiming such descent.
Herald, her′ald, n. in ancient times, an officer who made public proclamations and arranged ceremonies: in medieval times, an officer who had charge of all the etiquette of chivalry, keeping a register of the genealogies and armorial bearings of the nobles: an officer whose duty is to read proclamations, to blazon the arms of the nobility, &c.: a proclaimer: a forerunner: the red-breasted merganser, usually Her′ald-duck.—v.t. to introduce, as by a herald: to proclaim.—adj. Heral′dic, of or relating to heralds or heraldry.—adv. Heral′dically.—ns. Her′aldry, the art or office of a herald: the science of recording genealogies and blazoning coats of arms; Her′aldship.—Heralds' College (see College). [O. Fr. herault; of Teut. origin, Old High Ger. hari (A.S. here, Ger. heer), an army, and wald=walt, strength, sway.]
Herb, hėrb, n. a plant the stem of which dies every year, as distinguished from a tree or shrub which has a permanent stem.—adj. Herbā′ceous, pertaining to, or of the nature of, herbs: (bot.) having a soft stem that dies to the root annually.—n. Herbage (hėrb′āj, or ėrb′āj), green food for cattle: pasture: herbs collectively.—adjs. Herb′aged, covered with grass; Herb′al, pertaining to herbs.—n. a book containing descriptions of plants with medicinal properties, orig. of all plants.—ns. Herb′alist, one who makes collections of herbs or plants: one skilled in plants; Herb′ar (Spens.), an herb; Herbā′rian, a herbalist; Herbā′rium, a classified collection of preserved herbs or plants:—pl. Herbā′riums, Herbā′ria; Herb′ary, a garden of herbs; Herb′-benn′et (see Avens).—adjs. Herbes′cent, growing into herbs, becoming herbaceous; Herbif′erous, bearing herbs.—n. Herb′ist, a herbalist.—n.pl. Herbiv′ora, a name loosely applied to hoofed quadrupeds.—n.sing. Herb′ivore.—adjs. Herbiv′orous, eating or living on herbaceous plants; Herb′less.—ns. Herb′let (Shak.), a small herb; Herb′-of-grace′, or -repent′ance, the common rue, the vervain; Herborisā′tion, the seeking for plants: (min.) the figure of plants.—v.i. Herb′orise, to search for plants: to botanise.—v.t. to form plant-like figures in, as in minerals.—n. Herb′orist, a herbalist.—adjs. Herb′ous, Herb′ose, abounding with herbs.—ns. Herb′-Par′is, Paris quadrifolia, related to wake-robin; Herb′-Pē′ter, the cowslip or primrose; Herb′-Rob′ert, a common kind of geranium; Herb′-trin′ity, the pansy.—adj. Herb′y, of or pertaining to herbs. [Fr. herbe—L. herba, akin to Gr. phorbē, pasture—pherbein, to feed.]
Herculanean, her-kū-lā′nē-an, adj. of or pertaining to Herculaneum, the ancient Roman city buried with Pompeii by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
Herculean, hėr-kū′lē-an, adj. of or pertaining to Hercules: extremely difficult or dangerous, as the twelve labours of the Greek hero Hercules: of extraordinary strength and size.—Hercules beetle, a gigantic Brazilian lamellicorn beetle, 6 in. long, with a long horn on the head of the male and a smaller one on the thorax; Hercules' choice, toil and duty chosen in preference to ease and pleasure—from a famous story in Xenophon's Memorabilia; Hercules club, a stick of great size and weight; Pillars of Hercules, the name given by the ancients to two rocks flanking the entrance to the Mediterranean at the Strait of Gibraltar.
Hercynian, her-sin′i-an, adj. of or pertaining to the forest-covered mountain region of northern Germany—apart the Harz Mountains.
Herd, hėrd, n. a number of beasts feeding together, and watched or tended: any collection of beasts, as distinguished from a flock: a company of people, the rabble.—v.i. to run in herds.—v.t. to tend, as a herdsman.—ns. Herd, one who tends a herd; Herd′groom (Spens.), a shepherd-lad; Herds′-grass, timothy-grass; Herds′man, a man employed to herd or tend cattle—(B.) Herd′man. [A.S. hirde, hierde; Ger. heerde, Sw. hjord.]
Herdic, her′dik, n. a low-hung two or four wheeled carriage with back entrance and side seats. [From the inventor, Peter Herdic of Pennsylvania.]
Here, hēr, adv. in this place: in the present life or state.—advs. Here′about, also -abouts, about this place; Hereaf′ter, after this, in some future time or state.—n. a future state.—advs. Here′at, at or by reason of this; Here′away (coll.), hereabout; Hereby′, not far off: by this; Herein′, in this: in regard to this; Hereinaf′ter, afterward in this (document, &c.):—opp. to Hereinbefore′; Hereof′, of this: as a result of this; Hereon′, on or upon this; Hereto′, till this time: for this object; Heretofore′, before this time: formerly; Hereunto′ (also -un′-), to this point or time; Hereupon′, on this: in consequence of this; Herewith′, with this.—Here and there, in this place, and then in that: thinly: irregularly; Here goes! an exclamation indicating that the speaker is about to do something; Here you are (coll.), this is what you want; Neither here nor there, of no special importance. [A.S. hér, from base of hé, he; Dut. and Ger. hier, Sw. här.]
Heredity, he-red′i-ti, n. the organic relation between generations, esp. between parents and offspring: the transmission of qualities from the parents or ancestors to their offspring.—adj. Hered′itable, that may be inherited.—ns. Heredit′ament, all property of whatever kind that may pass to an heir.—adv. Hered′itarily.—n. Hered′itariness, the quality of being hereditary.—adj. Hered′itary, descending by inheritance: transmitted from parents to their offspring. [L. hereditas, the state of an heir—heres, herēdis, an heir.]