Defn: An illustrious man, supposed to be exalted, after death, to a place among the gods; a demigod, as Hercules.
2. A man of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; a prominent or central personage in any remarkable action or event; hence, a great or illustrious person. Each man is a hero and oracle to somebody. Emerson.
3. The principal personage in a poem, story, and the like, or the person who has the principal share in the transactions related; as Achilles in the Iliad, Ulysses in the Odyssey, and Æneas in the Æneid. The shining quality of an epic hero. Dryden. Hero worship, extravagant admiration for great men, likened to the ancient worship of heroes. Hero worship exists, has existed, and will forever exist, universally among mankind. Carlyle.
HERODIAN
He*ro"di*an, n. (Jewish Hist.)
Defn: One of a party among the Jews, composed of partisans of Herod of Galilee. They joined with the Pharisees against Christ.
HERODIONES
He*ro`di*o"nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of wading birds, including the herons, storks, and allied forms. Called also Herodii. — He*ro`di*o"nine, a.
HEROESS
He"ro*ess, n.
Defn: A heroine. [Obs.] Dryden.
HEROIC
He*ro"ic, a. Etym: [F. héroïque, L. heroïcus, Gr.