Defn: To form, or surround with, a halo; to encircle with, or aswith, a halo.The fire That haloed round his saintly brow. Sothey.
HALOEDHa"loed, a.
Defn: Surrounded with a halo; invested with an ideal glory;glorified.Some haloed face bending over me. C. Bronté.
HALOGEN Hal"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s, salt + -gen: cf. F. halogène.] (Chem.)
Defn: An electro-negative element or radical, which, by combination with a metal, forms a haloid salt; especially, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; sometimes, also, fluorine and cyanogen. See Chlorine family, under Chlorine.
HALOGENOUSHa*log"e*nous, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a halogen.
HALOIDHa"loid ( or ), a. Etym: [Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s salt + -oid: cf. F. cal.](Chem.)
Defn: Resembling salt; — said of certain binary compounds consisting of a metal united to a negative element or radical, and now chiefly applied to the chlorides, bromides, iodides, and sometimes also to the fluorides and cyanides. — n.
Defn: A haloid substance.
HALOMANCYHal"o*man`cy, n.
Defn: See Alomancy.
HALOMETERHa*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s, salt + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the forms and angles of salts and crystals; a goniometer.
HALONESHa*lo"nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Alternating transparent and opaque white rings which are seen outside the blastoderm, on the surface of the developing egg of the hen and other birds.
HALOPHYTEHal"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s, salt + (Bot.)
Defn: A plant found growing in salt marshes, or in the sea.
HALOSCOPEHa"lo*scope, n. Etym: [Halo + -scope.]
Defn: An instrument for exhibition or illustration of the phenomena of halos, parhelia, and the like.
HALOTRICHITEHal*o*tri"chite, n. Etym: [Gr. "a`ls sea + fri`x, tricho`s, hair.](Min.)
Defn: An iron alum occurring in silky fibrous aggregates of a yellowish white color.
HALOXYLINEHa*lox"y*line, n. Etym: [Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s, salt + xy`lon wood.]
Defn: An explosive mixture, consisting of sawdust, charcoal, niter, and ferrocyanide of potassium, used as a substitute for gunpowder.
HALPHalp, imp. of Help.
Defn: Helped. [Obs.]
HALPACEHal"pace, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Haut pas.
HALSHals, n. Etym: [AS. heals; akin to D., G., & Goth. hals. See Collar.]
Defn: The neck or throat. [Obs.]Do me hangen by the hals. Chaucer.
HALSEHalse, v. t. Etym: [AS. healsian.]
1. To embrace about the neck; to salute; to greet. [Obs.] Each other kissed glad And lovely halst. Spenser.
2. To adjure; to beseech; to entreat. [Obs.] O dere child, I halse thee, In virtue of the Holy Trinity. Chaucer.
HALSEHalse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Halsed (hlst); p. pr. & vb. n. Halsing.]Etym: [Cf. Hawser.]
Defn: To haul; to hoist. [Obs.]
HALSENINGHal"sen*ing, a.
Defn: Sounding harshly in the throat; inharmonious; rough. [Obs.]Carew.
HALSERHals"er, n.
Defn: See Hawser. Pope.
HALTHalt,
Defn: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Hold, contraction for holdeth. [Obs.]Chaucer.
HALTHalt, n. Etym: [Formerly alt, It. alto, G. halt, fr. halten to hold.See Hold.]
Defn: A stop in marching or walking, or in any action; arrest ofprogress.Without any halt they marched. Clarendon.[Lovers] soon in passion's war contest, Yet in their march soon makea halt. Davenant.
HALTHalt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Halted; p. pr. & vb. n. Halting.]
1. To hold one's self from proceeding; to hold up; to cease progress; to stop for a longer or shorter period; to come to a stop; to stand still.
2. To stand in doubt whether to proceed, or what to do; to h How long halt ye between two opinions 1 Kings xviii. 21
HALTHalt, v. t. (Mil.)
Defn: To cause to cease marching; to stop; as, the general halted his troops for refreshment.
HALT Halt, a. Etym: [AS. healt; akin to OS., Dan., & Sw. halt, Icel. haltr, halltr, Goth. halts, OHG. halz.]
Defn: Halting or stopping in walking; lame. Bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. Luke xiv. 21.
HALTHalt, n.
Defn: The act of limping; lameness.
HALTHalt, v. i. Etym: [OE. halten, AS. healtian. See Halt, a.]
1. To walk lamely; to limp.
2. To have an irregular rhythm; to be defective. The blank verse shall halt for it. Shak.
HALTERHalt"er, n.
Defn: One who halts or limps
HALTERHal"ter, n. Etym: [OE. halter, helter, helfter, AS. hælftre; akin toG. halfter, D. halfter, halster, and also to E. helve. See Helve.]
Defn: A strong strap or cord. Especially: (a) A rope or strap, with or without a headstall, for leading or tying a horse. (b) A rope for hanging malefactors; a noose. Shak. No man e'er felt the halter draw With good opinion of the law. Trumbull.
HALTERHal"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Haltered; p. pr. & vb. n. Haltering.]
Defn: To tie by the neck with a rope, strap, or halter; to put a halter on; to subject to a hangman's halter. "A haltered neck." Shak.
HALTERESHal*te"res, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Balancers; the rudimentary hind wings of Diptera.
HALTER-SACKHal"ter-sack`, n.
Defn: A term of reproach, implying that one is fit to be hanged.[Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
HALTINGLYHalt"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a halting or limping manner.
HALVANSHal"vans, n. pl. (Mining)
Defn: Impure ore; dirty ore.
HALVEHal"ve, n.
Defn: A half. [Obs.] Chaucer.
HALVEHalve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Halved; p. pr. & vb. n. Halving.] Etym:[From Half.]
1. To divide into two equal parts; as, to halve an apple; to be or form half of. So far apart their lives are thrown From the twin soul that halves their own. M. Arnold.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: To join, as two pieces of timber, by cutting away each for half its thickness at the joining place, and fitting together.
HALVEDHalved, a.
Defn: Appearing as if one side, or one half, were cut away; dimidiate.
HALVESHalves, n.,
Defn: pl. of Half. By halves, by one half at once; halfway;fragmentarily; partially; incompletely.I can not believe by halves; either I have faith, or I have it not.J. H. Newman.To go halves. See under Go.
HALWEHal"we, n. Etym: [OE., fr. AS. halga. See Holy.]
Defn: A saint. [Obs.] Chaucer.
HAL'YARD; HALYARDHal'yard, n. Etym: [Hale, v. t. + yard.] (Naut.)
Defn: A rope or tackle for hoisting or lowering yards, sails, flags, etc. [Written also halliard, haulyard.]
HALYSITESHal`y*si"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of Silurian fossil corals; the chain corals. See Chain coral, under Chain.
HAMHam, n.
Defn: Home. [North of Eng.] Chaucer.
HAMHam, n. Etym: [AS. ham; akin to D. ham, dial. G. hamme, OHG. hamma.Perh. named from the bend at the ham, and akin to E. chamber. Cf.Gammon ham.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The region back of the knee joint; the popliteal space; the hock.
2. The thigh of any animal; especially, the thigh of a hog cured by salting and smoking. A plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak ham. Shak.
HAMADRYADHam"a*dry`ad, n.; pl. E. Hamadryads, L. Hamadryades. Etym: [L.Hamadryas, -adis, Gr. hamadryade. See Same, and Tree.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A tree nymph whose life ended with that of the particular tree, usually an oak, which had been her abode.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large venomous East Indian snake (Orhiophagus bungarus), allied to the cobras.
HAMADRYASHa*ma"dry*as, n. Etym: [L., a hamadryad. See Hamadryad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sacred baboon of Egypt (Cynocephalus Hamadryas).
HAMALHa*mal", n. [Written also hammal, hummaul, hamaul, khamal, etc.][Turk. & Ar. hammal, fr. Ar. hamala to carry.]
Defn: In Turkey and other Oriental countries, a porter or burden bearer; specif., in Western India, a palanquin bearer.
HAMAMELISHam`a*me"lis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants which includes the witch-hazel (HamamelisVirginica), a preparation of which is used medicinally.
HAMATEHa"mate, a. Etym: [L. hamatus, fr. hamus hook.]
Defn: Hooked; bent at the end into a hook; hamous.
HAMATEDHa"ma*ted, a.
Defn: Hooked, or set with hooks; hamate. Swift.
HAMATUMHa*ma"tum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. hamatus hooked.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Unciform.
HAMBLEHam"ble, v. t. Etym: [OE. hamelen to mutilate, AS. hamelian; akin toOHG. hamal to mutilate, hamal mutilated, ham mutilated, Icel. hamlato mutilate. Cf.Ham to fetter.]
Defn: To hamstring. [Obs.]
HAMBURGHam"burg, n.
Defn: A commercial city of Germany, near the mouth of the Elbe. BlackHamburg grape. See under Black.— Hamburg , a kind of embroidered work done by machinery on cambricor muslin; — used for trimming.— Hamburg lake, a purplish crimson pigment resembling cochineal.
HAMEHame, n.
Defn: Home. [Scot. & O. Eng.]
HAMEHame, n. Etym: [Scot. haims, hammys, hems, OE. ham; cf. D. haam.]
Defn: One of the two curved pieces of wood or metal, in the harness of a draught horse, to which the traces are fastened. They are fitted upon the collar, or have pads fitting the horse's neck attached to them.
HAMELHam"el, v. t. [Obs.]
Defn: Same as Hamele.
HAMESECKEN; HAMESUCKENHame"seck`en, Hame"suck`en, n. Etym: [AS. hams. See Home, and Seek.](Scots Law)
Defn: The felonious seeking and invasion of a person in his dwelling house. Bouvier.
HAMFATTER Ham"fat`ter, n. [From a negro minstrel song called "The ham-fat man."]
Defn: A low-grade actor or performer. [Theatrical Slang]
HAMIFORMHa"mi*form, n. Etym: [L. hamus hook + -form.]
Defn: Hook-shaped.
HAMILTON PERIODHam"il*ton pe"ri*od. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision of the Devonian system of America; — so named from Hamilton, Madison Co., New York. It includes the Marcellus, Hamilton, and Genesee epochs or groups. See the Chart of Geology.
HAMINURAHam`i*nu"ra, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large edible river fish (Erythrinus macrodon) of Guiana.
HAMITEHa"mite, n.Etym: [L. hamus hook.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil cephalopod of the genus Hamites, related to the ammonites, but having the last whorl bent into a hooklike form.
HAMITEHam"ite, n.
Defn: A descendant of Ham, Noah's second son. See Gen. x. 6-20.
HAMITICHam*it"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Ham or his descendants. Hamitic languages, the group of languages spoken mainly in the Sahara, Egypt, Galla, and Somâli Land, and supposed to be allied to the Semitic. Keith Johnson.
HAMLET Ham"let, n. Etym: [OWE. hamelet, OF. hamelet, dim. of hamel, F. hameau, LL. hamellum, a dim. of German origin; cf. G. heim home. sq. root220. See Home.]
Defn: A small village; a little cluster of houses in the country.The country wasted, and the hamlets burned. Dryden.
Syn.— Village; neighborhood. See Village.
HAMLETEDHam"let*ed, p. a.
Defn: Confined to a hamlet. Feltham.
HAMMERHam"mer, n. Etym: [OE. hamer, AS. hamer, hamor; akin to D. hamer, G.& Dan. hammer, Sw. hammare, Icel. hamarr, hammer, crag, and perh. toGr. a stone.]
1. An instrument for driving nails, beating metals, and the like, consisting of a head, usually of steel or iron, fixed crosswise to a handle. With busy hammers closing rivets up. Shak.
2. Something which in firm or action resembles the common hammer; as: (a) That part of a clock which strikes upon the bell to indicate the hour. (b) The padded mallet of a piano, which strikes the wires, to produce the tones. (c) (Anat.) The malleus. See under Ear. (Gun.)
Defn: That part of a gunlock which strikes the percussion cap, or firing pin; the cock; formerly, however, a piece of steel covering the pan of a flintlock musket and struck by the flint of the cock to ignite the priming. (e) Also, a person of thing that smites or shatters; as, St. Augustine was the hammer of heresies. He met the stern legionaries [of Rome] who had been the "massive iron hammers" of the whole earth. J. H. Newman. Atmospheric hammer, a dead-stroke hammer in which the spring is formed by confined air. — Drop hammer, Face hammer, etc. See under Drop, Face, etc. — Hammer fish. See Hammerhead. — Hammer hardening, the process of hardening metal by hammering it when cold. — Hammer shell (Zoöl.), any species of Malleus, a genus of marine bivalve shells, allied to the pearl oysters, having the wings narrow and elongated, so as to give them a hammer-shaped outline; — called also hammer oyster. — To bring to the hammer, to put up at auction.
HAMMERHam"mer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hammered; p. pr. & vb. n. Hammering.]
1. To beat with a hammer; to beat with heavy blows; as, to hammer iron.
2. To form or forge with a hammer; to shape by beating. "Hammered money." Dryden.
3. To form in the mind; to shape by hard intellectual labor; — usually with out. Who was hammering out a penny dialogue. Jeffry.
HAMMERHam"mer, v. i.
1. To be busy forming anything; to labor hard as if shaping something with a hammer. Whereon this month I have hammering. Shak.
2. To strike repeated blows, literally or figuratively. Blood and revenge are hammering in my head. Shak.
HAMMERABLEHam"mer*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being formed or shaped by a hammer. Sherwood.
HAMMER-BEAMHam"mer-beam`, n. (Cothic Arch.)
Defn: A member of one description of roof truss, called hammer-beam truss, which is so framed as not to have a tiebeam at the top of the wall. Each principal has two hammer-beams, which occupy the situation, and to some extent serve the purpose, of a tiebeam.
HAMMER BREAKHam"mer break. (Elec.)
Defn: An interrupter in which contact is broken by the movement of an automatically vibrating hammer between a contact piece and an electromagnet, or of a rapidly moving piece mechanically driven.
HAMMERCLOTH Ham"mer*cloth`, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. D. hemel heaven, canopy, tester (akin to G. himmel, and perh. also to E. heaven) + E. cloth; or perh. a corruption of hamper cloth.]
Defn: The cloth which covers a coach box.
HAMMER-DRESSEDHam"mer-dressed`, a.
Defn: Having the surface roughly shaped or faced with the stonecutter's hammer; — said of building stone.
HAMMERERHam"mer*er, n.
Defn: One who works with a hammer.
HAMMER-HARDENHam"mer-hard`en, v. t.
Defn: To harden, as a metal, by hammering it in the cold state.
HAMMERHEADHam"mer*head`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shark of the genus Sphyrna or Zygæna, having the eyes set on projections from the sides of the head, which gives it a hammer shape. The Sphyrna zygæna is found in the North Atlantic. Called also hammer fish, and balance fish.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water fish; the stone-roller.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African fruit bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus); — so called from its large blunt nozzle.
HAMMERKOPHam"mer*kop, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the Heron family; the umber.
HAMMER-LESSHam"mer-less, a. (Firearms)
Defn: Without a visible hammer; — said of a gun having a cock or striker concealed from sight, and out of the way of an accidental touch.
HAMMER LOCKHammer lock. (Wrestling)
Defn: A hold in which an arm of one contestant is held twisted and bent behind his back by his opponent.
HAMMERMANHam"mer*man, n.; pl. Hammermen (.
Defn: A hammerer; a forgeman.
HAMMOCHRYSOSHam`mo*chry"sos, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. chryso`s gold.]
Defn: A stone with spangles of gold color in it.
HAMMOCKHam"mock, n. Etym: [A word of Indian origin: cf. Sp. hamaca.Columbus, in the Narrative of his first voyage, says: "A great manyIndians in canoes came to the ship to-day for the purpose ofbartering their cotton, and hamacas, or nets, in which they sleep."]
1. A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.
2. A piece of land thickly wooded, and usually covered with bushes and vines. Used also adjectively; as, hammock land. [Southern U. S.] Bartlett. Hammock nettings (Naut.), formerly, nets for stowing hammocks; now, more often, wooden boxes or a trough on the rail, used for that purpose.
HAMOSE; HAMOUSHa*mose", Ha"mous,Etym: [L. hamus hook.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the end hooked or curved.
HAMPERHam"per, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. hanaper.]
Defn: A large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles; as, a hamper of wine; a clothes hamper; an oyster hamper, which contains two bushels.
HAMPERHam"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hampered; p. pr. & vb. n. Hampering.]
Defn: To put in a hamper.
HAMPER Ham"per, v. t. Etym: [OE. hamperen, hampren, prob. of the same origin as E. hamble.]
Defn: To put a hamper or fetter on; to shackle; to insnare; to inveigle; hence, to impede in motion or progress; to embarrass; to encumber. "Hampered nerves." Blackmore. A lion hampered in a net. L'Estrange. They hamper and entangle our souls. Tillotson.
HAMPERHam"per, n. Etym: [See Hamper to shackle.]
1. A shackle; a fetter; anything which impedes. W. Browne.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Articles ordinarily indispensable, but in the way at certain times. Ham. Nav. Encyc. Top hamper (Naut.), unnecessary spars and rigging kept aloft.
HAMSHACKLEHam"shac`kle, v. t. Etym: [Ham + shackle.]
Defn: To fasten (an animal) by a rope binding the head to one of the fore legs; as, to hamshackle a horse or cow; hence, to bind or restrain; to curb.
HAMSTERHam"ster, n. Etym: [G. hamster.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European rodent (Cricetus frumentarius). It is remarkable for having a pouch on each side of the jaw, under the skin, and for its migrations.
HAMSTRINGHam"string`, n. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the great tendons situated in each side of the ham, or space back of the knee, and connected with the muscles of the back of the thigh.
HAMSTRINGHam"string`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hamstrung; p. pr. & vb. n.Hamstringing. See String.]
Defn: To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough; hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable. So have they hamstrung the valor of the subject by seeking to effeminate us all at home. Milton.
HAMULARHam"u*lar, a.
Defn: Hooked; hooklike; hamate; as, the hamular process of the sphenoid bone.
HAMULATEHam"u*late, a.
Defn: Furnished with a small hook; hook-shaped. Gray.
HAMULEHam"ule, n. Etym: [L. hamulus.]
Defn: A little hook.
HAMULOSEHam"u*lose", a. Etym: [L. hamulus, dim. of hamus a hook.]
Defn: Bearing a small hook at the end. Gray.
HAMULUSHam"u*lus, n.; pl. Hamuli (. Etym: [L., a little hook.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A hook, or hooklike process.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hooked barbicel of a feather.
HANHan, Etym: contr. inf. & plural pres. of Haven.
Defn: To have; have. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.Him thanken all, and thus they han an end. Chaucer.
HANAPHan"ap, n. Etym: [F. hanap. See Hanaper.]
Defn: A rich goblet, esp. one used on state occasions. [Obs.]
HANAPER Han"a*per, n. Etym: [LL. hanaperium a large vase, fr. hanaus vase, bowl, cup (whence F. hanap); of German origin; cf. ONG. hnapf, G. napf, akin to AS. hnæp cup, bowl. Cf. Hamper, Nappy, n.]
Defn: A kind of basket, usually of wickerwork, and adapted for the packing and carrying of articles; a hamper. Hanaper office, an office of the English court of chancery in which writs relating to the business of the public, and the returns to them, were anciently kept in a hanaper or hamper. Blackstone.
HANCEHance, v. t. Etym: [See Enhance.]
Defn: To raise; to elevate. [Obs.] Lydgate.
HANCE; HANCHHance, Hanch,Etym: [See Hanse.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: See Hanse.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A sudden fall or break, as the fall of the fife rail down to the gangway.
HAND Hand, n. Etym: [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. hönd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hinpan to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt.]
1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus.
2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as: (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey. (b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock.
3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, — four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
4. Side; part; direction, either right or left. On this hand and that hand, were hangings. Ex. xxxviii. 15. The Protestants were then on the winning hand. Milton.
5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity. He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. Addison.
6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance. To change the hand in carrying on the war. Clarendon. Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand. Judges vi. 36.
7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking. A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. Locke. I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. Hazlitt.
8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad or running hand.Hence, a signature.I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention andhis hand. Shak.Some writs require a judge's hand. Burril.
9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; — usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute." Knolles. Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the goverment of Britain. Milton.
10. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new.
11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." Bacon.
12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as: (a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the dealer. (b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.
13. (Firearms)
Defn: The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
Note: Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as: (a) Activity; operation; work; — in distinction from the head, which implies thought, and the heart, which implies affection. "His hand will be against every man." Gen. xvi. 12.(b) Power; might; supremacy; — often in the Scriptures. "With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you." Ezek. xx. 33.(c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand; to give the right hand. (d) Contract; — commonly of marriage; as, to ask the hand; to pledge the hand.
Note: Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or withoutthe hyphen), signifying performed by the hand; as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe: used by, or designed for, the hand;as, hand ball or handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade orhand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand loom, handmill orhand organ or handorgan, handsaw or hand saw, hand-weapon: measuredor regulated by the hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, handgallop or hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following paragraphare written either as two words or in combination. Hand bag, asatchel; a small bag for carrying books, papers, parcels, etc.— Hand basket, a small or portable basket.— Hand bell, a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell. Bacon.— Hand bill, a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill.— Hand car. See under Car.— Hand director (Mus.), an instrument to aid in forming a goodposition of the hands and arms when playing on the piano; a handguide.— Hand drop. See Wrist drop.— Hand gallop. See under Gallop.— Hand gear (Mach.), apparatus by means of which a machine, orparts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operatedby hand.— Hand glass. (a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protectionof plants. (b) A small mirror with a handle.— Hand guide. Same as Hand director (above).— Hand language, the art of conversing by the hands, esp. aspracticed by the deaf and dumb; dactylology.— Hand lathe. See under Lathe.— Hand money, money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest money.— Hand organ (Mus.), a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned byhand.— Hand plant. (Bot.) Same as Hand tree (below).— Hand rail, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. Gwilt.— Hand sail, a sail managed by the hand. Sir W. Temple.— Hand screen, a small screen to be held in the hand.— Hand screw, a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights;(Carp.) a screw clamp.— Hand staff (pl. Hand staves), a javelin. Ezek. xxxix. 9.— Hand stamp, a small stamp for dating, addressing, or cancelingpapers, envelopes, etc.— Hand tree (Bot.), a lofty tree found in Mexico (Cheirostemonplatanoides), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of ahand.— Hand vise, a small vise held in the hand in doing small work.Moxon.— Hand work, or Handwork, work done with the hands, asdistinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork.— All hands, everybody; all parties.— At all hands, On all hands, on all sides; from every direction;generally.— At any hand, At no hand, in any (or no) way or direction; on anyaccount; on no account. "And therefore at no hand consisting with thesafety and interests of humility." Jer. Taylor.— At first hand, At second hand. See def. 10 (above).— At hand. (a) Near in time or place; either present and withinreach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand; I hear histrumpet." Shak. (b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot athand." Shak.— At the hand of, by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we receivegood at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil" Job ii. 10.— Bridle hand. See under Bridle.— By hand, with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality oftools, engines, or animals; as, to weed a garden by hand; to lift,draw, or carry by hand.— Clean hands, freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt ofdishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that hath cleanhands shall be stronger and stronger." Job xvii. 9.— From hand to hand, from one person to another.— Hand in hand. (a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. Swift. (b)Just; fair; equitable.As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison. Shak.— Hand over hand, Hand over fist, by passing the hands alternatelyone before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand; also,rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand over hand.— Hand over head, negligently; rashly; without seeing what onedoes. [Obs.] Bacon.— Hand running, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running.— Hand off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling! — Handto hand, in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to hand contest.Dryden.— Heavy hand, severity or oppression.— In hand. (a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . .a far greater reward hereafter." Tillotson. (b) In preparation;taking place. Chaucer. "Revels . . . in hand." Shak. (c) Underconsideration, or in the course of transaction; as, he has thebusiness in hand.— In one's hand or hands. (a) In one's possession or keeping. (b)At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my hand.— Laying on of hands, a form used in consecrating to office, in therite of confirmation, and in blessing persons.— Light hand, gentleness; moderation.— Note of hand, a promissory note.— Off hand, Out of hand, forthwith; without delay, hesitation, ordifficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand."Spenser.— Off one's hands, out of one's possession or care.— On hand, in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods onhand.— On one's hands, in one's possession care, or management.— Putting the hand under the thigh, an ancient Jewish ceremony usedin swearing.— Right hand, the place of honor, power, and strength.— Slack hand, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth.— Strict hand, severe discipline; rigorous government.— To bear a hand (Naut), to give help quickly; to hasten.— To bear in hand, to keep in expectation with false pretenses.[Obs.] Shak.— To be hand and glove, or in glove with. See under Glove.— To be on the mending hand, to be convalescent or improving.— To bring up by hand, to feed (an infant) without suckling it.— To change hand. See Change.— To change hands, to change sides, or change owners. Hudibras.— To clap the hands, to express joy or applause, as by striking thepalms of the hands together.— To come to hand, to be received; to be taken into possession; as,the letter came to hand yesterday.— To get hand, to gain influence. [Obs.]Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them. Baxter.— To got one's hand in, to make a beginning in a certain work; tobecome accustomed to a particular business.— To have a hand in, to be concerned in; to have a part or concernin doing; to have an agency or be employed in.— To have in hand. (a) To have in one's power or control. Chaucer.(b) To be engaged upon or occupied with.— To have one's hands full, to have in hand al that one can do, ormore than can be done conveniently; to be pressed with labor orengagements; to be surrounded with difficulties.— To have, or get, the (higher) upper hand, to have, or get, thebetter of another person or thing.— To his hand, To my hand, etc., in readiness; already prepared."The work is made to his hands." Locke.— To hold hand, to compete successfully or on even conditions.[Obs.] Shak.— To lay hands on, to seize; to assault.— To lend a hand, to give assistance.— To lift, or put forth, the hand against, to attack; to oppose; tokill.— To live from hand to mouth, to obtain food and other necessariesas want compels, without previous provision.— To make one's hand, to gain advantage or profit.— To put the hand unto, to steal. Ex. xxii. 8.— To put the last,or finishing, hand to, to make the last corrections in; to complete;to perfect.— To set the hand to, to engage in; to undertake.That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thinehand to. Deut. xxiii. 20.— To stand one in hand, to concern or affect one.— To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety foranother's debt or good behavior.— To take in hand. (a) To attempt or undertake. (b) To seize anddeal with; as, he took him in hand.— To wash the hands of, to disclaim or renounce interest in, orresponsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of abusiness. Matt. xxvii. 24.— Under the hand of, authenticated by the handwriting or signatureof; as, the deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner.
HANDHand, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handed; p. pr. & vb. n. Handing.]
1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.
2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.
3. To manage; as, I hand my oar. [Obs.] Prior.
4. To seize; to lay hands on. [Obs.] Shak.
5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast. [R.]
6. (Naut.)
Defn: To furl; — said of a sail. Totten. To hand down, to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor; as, fables are handed down from age to age; to forward to the proper officer (the decision of a higher court); as, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals handed down its decision. — To hand over, to yield control of; to surrender; to deliver up.
HANDHand, v. i.
Defn: To coöperate. [Obs.] Massinger.
HANDBALLHand"ball`, n.
1. A ball for throwing or using with the hand.
2. A game played with such a ball, as by players striking it to and fro between them with the hands, or alternately against a wall, until one side or the other fails to return the ball.
HANDBARROWHand"bar"row, n.
Defn: A frame or barrow, without a wheel, carried by hand.
HANDBILLHand"bill`, n.
1. A loose, printed sheet, to be distributed by hand.
2. A pruning hook. [Usually written hand bill.]
HANDBOOKHand"book`, n. Etym: [Hand + book; cf. AS. handb, or G. handbuch.]
Defn: A book of reference, to be carried in the hand; a manual; a guidebook.
HANDBREADTHHand"breadth`, n.
Defn: A space equal to the breadth of the hand; a palm. Ex. xxxvii. 12.
HANDCARTHand"cart`, n.
Defn: A cart drawn or pushed by hand.
HANDCLOTHHand"cloth`, n.
Defn: A handkerchief.
HANDCRAFTHand"craft`, n.
Defn: Same as Handicraft.
HANDCRAFTSMANHand"crafts`man, n.; pl. -men (.
Defn: A handicraftsman.
HANDCUFFHand"cuff`, n. Etym: [AS. handcops; hand hand + cosp, cops, fetter.The second part was confused with E. cuffs,]
Defn: A fastening, consisting of an iron ring around the wrist, usually connected by a chain with one on the other wrist; a manacle; — usually in the plural.
HANDCUFFHand"cuff`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handcuffed; p. pr. & vb. n.Handcuffing.]
Defn: To apply handcuffs to; to manacle. Hay (1754).
HANDEDHand"ed, a.
1. With hands joined; hand in hand. Into their inmost bower, Handed they went. Milton.
2. Having a peculiar or characteristic hand. As poisonous tongued as handed. Shak.
Note: Handed is used in composition in the sense of having (such or so many) hands; as, bloody-handed; free-handed; heavy-handed; left- handed; single-handed.
HANDERHand"er, n.
Defn: One who hands over or transmits; a conveyer in succession.Dryden.
HANDFASTHand"fast`, n.
1. Hold; grasp; custody; power of confining or keeping. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Contract; specifically, espousal. [Obs.]
HANDFASTHand"fast`, a.
Defn: Fast by contract; betrothed by joining hands. [Obs.] Bale.
HANDFASTHand"fast`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handfasted; p. pr. & vb. n.Handfasting.]
Defn: To pledge; to bind; to betroth by joining hands, in order to cohabitation, before the celebration of marriage. [Obs.]
HANDFASTHand"fast`, n. Etym: [G. handfest; hand hand + fest strong. SeeFast.]
Defn: Strong; steadfast.[R.] Carlyle.
HANDFASTLYHand"fast`ly, adv.
Defn: In a handfast or publicly pledged manner. [Obs.] Holinshed.
HANDFISHHand"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The frogfish.
HANDFULHand"ful, n.; pl. Hand flus. Etym: [AS. handfull.]
1. As much as the hand will grasp or contain. Addison.
2. A hand's breadth; four inches. [Obs.] Knap the tongs together about a handful from the bottom. Bacon.
3. A small quantity.This handful of men were tied to very hard duty. Fuller.To have one's handful, to have one's hands full; to have all one cando. [Obs.]They had their handful to defend themselves from firing. Sir. W.Raleigh.
HAND-HOLEHand"-hole, n. (Steam Boilers)
Defn: A small hole in a boiler for the insertion of the hand in cleaning, etc. Hand-hole plate, the cover of a hand-hole.
HANDICAP Hand"i*cap, n. Etym: [From hand in cap; — perh. in reference to an old mode of setting a bargain by taking pieces of money from a cap.]
1. An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds, or ten pounds, and the like.
2. A race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
3. An old game at cards. [Obs.] Pepys.
HANDICAPHand"i*cap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handicapped; p. pr. & vb. n.Handicapping.]
Defn: To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped.
HANDICAPPERHand"i*cap`per, n.
Defn: One who determines the conditions of a handicap.
HANDICRAFT Hand"i*craft, n. Etym: [For handcraft, influenced by handiwork; AS. handcræft.]
1. A trade requiring skill of hand; manual occupation; handcraft. Addison.
2. A man who earns his living by handicraft; a handicraftsman. [R.] Dryden.
HANDICRAFTSMANHand"i*crafts`man, n.; pl. -men (.
Defn: A man skilled or employed in handcraft. Bacon.
HANDILYHand"i*ly, adv. Etym: [See Handy.]
Defn: In a handy manner; skillfully; conveniently.
HANDINESSHand"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being handy.
HANDIRONHand"i`ron, n.
Defn: See Andrion. [Obs.]
HANDIWORK Hand"i*work`, n. Etym: [OE. handiwerc, AS. handgeweorc; hand hand + geweorc work; prefix ge- + weorc. See Work.]
Defn: Work done by the hands; hence, any work done personally.The firmament showeth his handiwork. Ps. xix. 1.
HANDKERCHERHand"ker*cher, n.
Defn: A handkerchief. [Obs. or Colloq.] Chapman (1654). Shak.
HANDKERCHIEFHand"ker*chief (hân"ker*chîf; 277), n. Etym: [Hand + kerchief.]
1. A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face or hands.
2. A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief; a neckcloth.
HANDLEHan"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handled; p. pr. & vb. n. Handling .]Etym: [OE. handlen, AS. handian; akin to D. handelen to trade, G.handeln. See Hand.]
1. To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand. Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh. Luke xxiv. 39. About his altar, handling holy things. Milton.
2. To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper. Shak.
3. To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands. The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year. Sir W. Temple.
4. To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock.
5. To deal with; to make a business of. They that handle the law knew me not. Jer. ii. 8.
6. To treat; to use, well or ill. How wert thou handled being prisoner. Shak.
7. To manage; to control; to practice skill upon. You shall see how I will handle her. Shak.
8. To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection. We will handle what persons are apt to envy others. Bacon. To handle without gloves. See under Glove. [Colloq.]
HANDLEHan"dle, v. i.
Defn: To use the hands.They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv. 7.
HANDLEHan"dle, n. Etym: [AS. handle. See Hand.]
1. That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc.
2. That of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool. South. To give a handle, to furnish an occasion or means.
HANDLEABLEHan"dle*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being handled.
HANDLESSHand"less, a.
Defn: Without a hand. Shak.
HANDLINGHan"dling, n. Etym: [AS. handlung.]
1. A touching, controlling, managing, using, etc., with the hand or hands, or as with the hands. See Handle, v. t. The heavens and your fair handling Have made you master of the field this day. Spenser.
2. (Drawing, Painting, etc.)
Defn: The mode of using the pencil or brush, etc.; style of touch.Fairholt.
HANDMADEHand"made", a.
Defn: Manufactured by hand; as, handmade shoes.
HANDMAID; HANDMAIDENHand"maid", Hand"maiden, n.
Defn: A maid that waits at hand; a female servant or attendant.
HANDSAWHand"saw` n.
Defn: A saw used with one hand.
HANDSEL Hand"sel, n. [Written also hansel.] Etym: [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handsa giving into hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See Sell, Sale. ]
1. A sale, gift, or delivery into the hand of another; especially, a sale, gift, delivery, or using which is the first of a series, and regarded as on omen for the rest; a first installment; an earnest; as the first money received for the sale of goods in the morning, the first money taken at a shop newly opened, the first present sent to a young woman on her wedding day, etc. Their first good handsel of breath in this world. Fuller. Our present tears here, not our present laughter, Are but the handsels of our joys hereafter. Herrick.
2. Price; payment. [Obs.] Spenser. Handsel Monday, the first Monday of the new year, when handsels or presents are given to servants, children, etc.
HANDSEL Hand"sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Handseled or Handseled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Handseling or Handselling.] Etym: [Written also hansel.] Etym: [OE handsellen, hansellen;cf. Isel. hadsala, handselja. See Handsel, n.]
1. To give a handsel to.
2. To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally. No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. Fuller.
HANDSOME Hand"some, a. [Compar. Handsomer; superl. Handsomest.] Etym: [Hand + -some. It at first meant, dexterous; cf. D. handzaam dexterous, ready, limber, manageable, and E. handy.]
1. Dexterous; skillful; handy; ready; convenient; — applied to things as persons. [Obs.] That they [engines of war] be both easy to be carried and handsome to be moved and turned about. Robynson (Utopia). For a thief it is so handsome as it may seem it was first invented for him. Spenser.
2. Agreeable to the eye or to correct taste; having a pleasing appearance or expression; attractive; having symmetry and dignity; comely; — expressing more than pretty, and less than beautiful; as, a handsome man or woman; a handsome garment, house, tree, horse.
3. Suitable or fit in action; marked with propriety and ease; graceful; becoming; appropriate; as, a handsome style, etc. Easiness and handsome address in writing. Felton.
4. Evincing a becoming generosity or nobleness of character; liberal; generous. Handsome is as handsome does. Old Proverb.
5. Ample; moderately large. He . . . accumulated a handsome sum of money. V. Knox. To do the handsome thing, to act liberally. [Colloq.]
Syn. — Handsome, Pretty. Pretty applies to things comparatively small, which please by their delicacy and grace; as, a pretty girl, a pretty flower, a pretty cottage. Handsome rises higher, and is applied to objects on a larger scale. We admire what is handsome, we are pleased with what is pretty. The word is connected with hand, and has thus acquired the idea of training, cultivation, symmetry, and proportion, which enters so largely into our conception of handsome. Thus Drayton makes mention of handsome players, meaning those, who are well trained; and hence we speak of a man's having a handsome address, which is the result of culture; of a handsome horse or dog, which implies well proportioned limbs; of a handsome face, to which, among other qualities, the idea of proportion and a graceful contour are essential; of a handsome tree, and a handsome house or villa. So, from this idea of proportion or suitableness, we have, with a different application, the expressions, a handsome fortune, a handsome offer.
HANDSOMEHand"some, v. t.
Defn: To render handsome. [Obs.] Donne
HANDSOMELYHand"some*ly, adv.
1. In a handsome manner.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Carefully; in shipshape style.
HANDSOMENESSHand"some*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being handsome. Handsomeness is the mere animal excellence, beauty the mere imaginative. Hare.
HANDSPIKEHand"spike`, n.
Defn: A bar or lever, generally of wood, used in a windlass or capstan, for heaving anchor, and, in modified forms, for various purposes.
HANDSPRINGHand"spring`, n.
Defn: A somersault made with the assistance of the hands placed upon the ground.
HAND-TIGHTHand"-tight`, a. (Naut.)
Defn: As tight as can be made by the hand. Totten.
HANDWHEELHand"wheel`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: Any wheel worked by hand; esp., one the rim of which serves as the handle by which a valve, car brake, or other part is adjusted.
HAND-WINGEDHand"-winged`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having wings that are like hands in the structure and arrangement of their bones; — said of bats. See Cheiroptera.
HANDWRITINGHand"writ`ing, n.
1. The cast or form of writing peculiar to each hand or person; chirography.
2. That which is written by hand; manuscript. The handwriting on the wall, a doom pronounced; an omen of disaster. Dan. v. 5.
HANDY Hand"y, a. [Compar. Handier; superl. Handiest.] Etym: [OE. hendi, AS. hendig (in comp.), fr. hand hand; akin to D. handig, Goth. handugs clever, wise.]
1. Performed by the hand. [Obs.] To draw up and come to handy strokes. Milton.
2. Skillful in using the hand; dexterous; ready; adroit. "Each is handy in his way." Dryden.
3. Ready to the hand; near; also, suited to the use of the hand; convenient; valuable for reference or use; as, my tools are handy; a handy volume.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: Easily managed; obedient to the helm; — said of a vessel.
HANDY-DANDYHand"y-dan`dy, n.
Defn: A child's play, one child guessing in which closed hand the other holds some small object, winning the object if right and forfeiting an equivalent if wrong; hence, forfeit. Piers Plowman.
HANDYFIGHTHand"y*fight`, n.
Defn: A fight with the hands; boxing. "Pollux loves handyfights." B.Jonson.
HANDYGRIPEHand"y*gripe`, n.
Defn: Seizure by, or grasp of, the hand; also, close quarters in fighting. Hudibras.
HANDYSTROKEHand"y*stroke`, n.
Defn: A blow with the hand.
HANDYWORKHand"y`work`, n.
Defn: See Handiwork.
HANG Hang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hanged (hngd) or Hung (; p. pr. & vb. n. Hanging. The use of hanged is preferable to that of hung, when reference is had to death or execution by suspension, and it is also more common.] Etym: [OE. hangen, hangien, v. t. & i., AS. hangian, v. i., fr. h, v. t. (imp. heng, p. p. hongen); akin to OS. hang, v. i. D. hangen, v. t. & i., G. hangen, v. i, hängen, v. t, Isel hanga, v. i., Goth. hahan, v. t. (imp. haíhah), hahan, v. i. (imp. hahaida), and perh. to L. cunctari to delay. sq. root37. ]
1. To suspend; to fasten to some elevated point without support from below; — often used with up or out; as, to hang a coat on a hook; to hang up a sign; to hang out a banner.
2. To fasten in a manner which will allow of free motion upon the point or points of suspension; — said of a pendulum, a swing, a door, gate, etc.
3. To fit properly, as at a proper angle (a part of an implement that is swung in using), as a scythe to its snath, or an ax to its helve. [U. S.]
4. To put to death by suspending by the neck; — a form of capital punishment; as, to hang a murderer.
5. To cover, decorate, or furnish by hanging pictures trophies, drapery, and the like, or by covering with paper hangings; — said of a wall, a room, etc. Hung be the heavens with black. Shak. And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils. Dryden.
6. To paste, as paper hangings, on the walls of a room.
7. To hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner or position instead of erect; to droop; as, he hung his head in shame. Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head. Milton. To hang down, to let fall below the proper position; to bend down; to decline; as, to hang down the head, or, elliptically, to hang the head. — To hang fire (Mil.), to be slow in communicating fire through the vent to the charge; as, the gun hangs fire; hence, to hesitate, to hold back as if in suspense.
HANGHang, v. i.
1. To be suspended or fastened to some elevated point without support from below; to dangle; to float; to rest; to remain; to stay.
2. To be fastened in such a manner as to allow of free motion on the point or points of suspension.
3. To die or be put to death by suspension from the neck. [R.] "Sir Balaam hangs." Pope.
4. To hold for support; to depend; to cling; — usually with on or upon; as, this question hangs on a single point. "Two infants hanging on her neck." Peacham.
5. To be, or be like, a suspended weight. Life hangs upon me, and becomes a burden. Addison.
6. To hover; to impend; to appear threateningly; — usually with over; as, evils hang over the country.
7. To lean or incline; to incline downward. To decide which way hung the victory. Milton. His neck obliquely o'er his shoulder hung. Pope.
8. To slope down; as, hanging grounds.
9. To be undetermined or uncertain; to be in suspense; to linger; to be delayed. A noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell On the proud crest of Satan. Milton. To hang around, to loiter idly about. — To hang back, to hesitate; to falter; to be reluctant. "If any one among you hangs back." Jowett (Thucyd.). — To hang by the eyelids. (a) To hang by a very slight hold or tenure. (b) To be in an unfinished condition; to be left incomplete. — To hang in doubt, to be in suspense. — To hang on (with the emphasis on the preposition), to keep hold; to hold fast; to stick; to be persistent, as a disease. — To hang on the lips, words, etc., to be charmed by eloquence. — To hang out. (a) To be hung out so as to be displayed; to project. (b) To be unyielding; as, the juryman hangs out against an agreement. [Colloq.] (c) to lounge around a particular place; as, teenageers tend to hang out at the mall these days — To hang over. (a) To project at the top. (b) To impend over. — To hang to, to cling. — To hang together. (a) To remain united; to stand by one another. "We are all of a piece; we hang together." Dryden. (b) To be self- consistent; as, the story does not hang together. [Colloq.] — To hang upon. (a) To regard with passionate affection. (b) (Mil.) To hover around; as, to hang upon the flanks of a retreating enemy.
HANGHang, n.
1. The manner in which one part or thing hangs upon, or is connected with, another; as, the hang of a scythe.
2. Connection; arrangement; plan; as, the hang of a discourse. [Colloq.]
3. A sharp or steep declivity or slope. [Colloq.] To get the hang of, to learn the method or arrangement of; hence, to become accustomed to. [Colloq.]
HANGBIRDHang"bird`, n. (Zoöl)
Defn: The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula); — so called because its nest is suspended from the limb of a tree. See Baltimore oriole.
HANG-BYHang"-by`, n.; pl. Hang-bies (.
Defn: A dependent; a hanger-on; — so called in contempt. B. Jonson.
HANGDOGHang"dog`, n.
Defn: A base, degraded person; a sneak; a gallows bird.
HANGDOGHang"dog`
Defn: , Low; sneaking; ashamed.The poor colonel went out of the room with a hangdog look. Thackeray.
HANGERHang"er, n.
1. One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman.
2. That by which a thing is suspended. Especially: (a) A strap hung to the girdle, by which a dagger or sword is suspended. (b) (Mach.) A part that suspends a journal box in which shafting runs. See Illust. of Countershaft. (c) A bridle iron.
3. That which hangs or is suspended, as a sword worn at the side; especially, in the 18th century, a short, curved sword.
4. A steep, wooded declivity. [Eng.] Gilbert White.
HANGER-ONHang"er-on`, n.; pl. Hangers-on (.
Defn: One who hangs on, or sticks to, a person, place, or service; a dependent; one who adheres to others' society longer than he is wanted. Goldsmith.
HANGINGHang"ing, a.
1. Requiring, deserving, or foreboding death by the halter. "What a hanging face!" Dryden.
2. Suspended from above; pendent; as, hanging shelves.
3. Adapted for sustaining a hanging object; as, the hanging post of a gate, the post which holds the hinges. Hanging compass, a compass suspended so that the card may be read from beneath. — Hanging garden, a garden sustained at an artificial elevation by any means, as by the terraces at Babylon. — Hanging indentation. See under Indentation. — Hanging rail (Arch.), that rail of a door or casement to which hinges are attached. — Hanging side (Mining), the overhanging side of an inclined or hading vein. — Hanging sleeves. (a) Strips of the same stuff as the gown, hanging down the back from the shoulders. (b) Loose, flowing sleeves. — Hanging stile. (Arch.) (a) That stile of a door to which hinges are secured. (b) That upright of a window frame to which casements are hinged, or in which the pulleys for sash windows are fastened. — Hanging wall (Mining), the upper wall of inclined vein, or that which hangs over the miner's head when working in the vein.