Chapter 99

Hem"o*glo"bin (?), n. [Hemo- + globe.] (Physiol.) The normal coloring matter of the red blood corpuscles of vertebrate animals. It is composed of hematin and globulin, and is also called hÊmatoglobulin. In arterial blood, it is always combined with oxygen, and is then called oxyhemoglobin. It crystallizes under different forms from different animals, and when crystallized, is called hÊmatocrystallin. See Blood crystal, under Blood.

Hem`o*glo"bin*om"e*ter (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) Same as HÊmochromometer.

||Hem`o*phil"i*a (?), n. See Hematophilia.

He*mop"ty*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. a"i^ma blood + &?; to spit: cf. F. hÈmoptysie.] (Med.) The expectoration of blood, due usually to hemorrhage from the mucous membrane of the lungs.

Hem"or*rhage (?), n. [L. haemorrhagia, Gr. a"imorragi`a; a"i^ma blood + "rhgny`nai to break, burst: cf. F. hÈmorragie, hÈmorrhagie.] (Med.) Any discharge of blood from the blood vessels.

The blood circulates in a system of closed tubes, the rupture of which gives rise to hemorrhage.

Hem`or*rhag"ic (?), a. [Gr. a"imorragiko`s: cf. F. hÈmorrhagique.] Pertaining or tending to a flux of blood; consisting in, or accompanied by, hemorrhage.

Hem`or*rhoid"al (?), a. [Cf. F. hÈmorroÔdal, hÈmorrhoÔdal.] 1. Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of, hemorrhoids.

2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the rectum; rectal; as, the hemorrhoidal arteries, veins, and nerves.

Hem"or*rhoids (?), n. pl. [L. haemorrhoidae, pl., Gr. &?;, sing., &?; (sc. &?;), pl., veins liable to discharge blood, hemorrhoids, fr. &?; flowing with blood; a"i^ma blood + &?; to flow: cf. F. hÈmorroÔdes, hÈmorrhoÔdes. See Rheum.] (Med.) Livid and painful swellings formed by the dilation of the blood vessels around the margin of, or within, the anus, from which blood or mucus is occasionally discharged; piles; emerods. [The sing. hemorrhoid is rarely used.]

Hem`o*stat"ic (?), a. [Hemo- + Gr. statiko`s causing to stand, fr. &?; to stand.] 1. (Med.) Of or relating to stagnation of the blood.

2. Serving to arrest hemorrhage; styptic.

Hem`o*stat"ic, n. A medicine or application to arrest hemorrhage.

Hem`o*tho"rax (?), n. [NL. See Hemo- , and Thorax.] (Med.) An effusion of blood into the cavity of the pleura.

Hemp (hmp), n. [OE. hemp, AS. henep, hÊnep; akin to D. hennep, OHG. hanaf, G. hanf, Icel. hampr, Dan. hamp, Sw. hampa, L. cannabis, cannabum, Gr. ka`nnabis, ka`nnabos; cf. Russ. konoplia, Skr. Áaa; all prob. borrowed from some other language at an early time. Cf. Cannabine, Canvas.] 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Cannabis (C. sativa), the fibrous skin or bark of which is used for making cloth and cordage. The name is also applied to various other plants yielding fiber.

2. The fiber of the skin or rind of the plant, prepared for spinning. The name has also been extended to various fibers resembling the true hemp.

African hemp, Bowstring hemp. See under African, and Bowstring. -- Bastard hemp, the Asiatic herb Datisca cannabina. -- Canada hemp, a species of dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), the fiber of which was used by the Indians. -- Hemp agrimony, a coarse, composite herb of Europe (Eupatorium cannabinum), much like the American boneset. -- Hemp nettle, a plant of the genus Galeopsis (G. Tetrahit), belonging to the Mint family. -- Indian hemp. See under Indian, a. -- Manila hemp, the fiber of Musa textilis. -- Sisal hemp, the fiber of Agave sisalana, of Mexico and Yucatan. -- Sunn hemp, a fiber obtained from a leguminous plant (Crotalaria juncea). -- Water hemp, an annual American weed (Acnida cannabina), related to the amaranth.

Hemp"en (-'n), a. 1. Made of hemp; as, a hempen cord.

2. Like hemp. "Beat into a hempen state." Cook.

Hemp"y (?), a. Like hemp. [R.] Howell.

Hem*self" (?), Hem*selve" (&?;), Hem*selv"en (&?;), pron. pl. [See Hem, pron.] Themselves; -- used reflexively. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hem"stitch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hemstitched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hemstitching.] [Hem + stitch.] To ornament at the head of a broad hem by drawing out a few parallel threads, and fastening the cross threads in successive small clusters; as, to hemstitch a handkerchief.

Hem"stitched (?), a. Having a broad hem separated from the body of the article by a line of open work; as, a hemistitched handkerchief.

He"muse (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The roebuck in its third year. [Prov. Eng.]

Hen (?), n. [AS. henn, hen, hÊn; akin to D. hen, OHG. henna, G. henne, Icel. h&?;na, Dan. hˆna; the fem. corresponding to AS. hana cock, D. haan, OHG. hano, G. hahn, Icel. hani, Dan. & Sw. hane. Prob. akin to L. canere to sing, and orig. meaning, a singer. Cf. Chanticleer.] (Zoˆl.) The female of the domestic fowl; also, the female of grouse, pheasants, or any kind of birds; as, the heath hen; the gray hen.

Used adjectively or in combination to indicate the female; as, hen canary, hen eagle, hen turkey, peahen.

Hen clam. (Zoˆl.) (a) A clam of the Mactra, and allied genera; the sea clam or surf clam. See Surf clam. (b) A California clam of the genus Pachydesma. -- Hen driver. See Hen harrier (below). -- Hen harrier (Zoˆl.), a hawk (Circus cyaneus), found in Europe and America; -- called also dove hawk, henharm, henharrow, hen driver, and usually, in America, marsh hawk. See Marsh hawk. -- Hen hawk (Zoˆl.), one of several species of large hawks which capture hens; esp., the American red-tailed hawk (Buteo borealis), the red-shouldered hawk (B. lineatus), and the goshawk.

Hen"bane` (?), n. [Hen + bane.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Hyoscyamus (H. niger). All parts of the plant are poisonous, and the leaves are used for the same purposes as belladonna. It is poisonous to domestic fowls; whence the name. Called also, stinking nightshade, from the fetid odor of the plant. See Hyoscyamus.

Hen"bit` (?), n. (Bot.) A weed of the genus Lamium (L. amplexicaule) with deeply crenate leaves.

Hence (?), adv. [OE. hennes, hens (the s is prop. a genitive ending; cf. - wards), also hen, henne, hennen, heonnen, heonene, AS. heonan, heonon, heona, hine; akin to OHG. hinnn, G. hinnen, OHG. hina, G. hin; all from the root of E. he. See He.] 1. From this place; away. "Or that we hence wend." Chaucer.

Arise, let us go hence.

John xiv. 31.

I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

Acts xxii. 21.

2. From this time; in the future; as, a week hence. "Half an hour hence." Shak.

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3. From this reason; as an inference or deduction.

Hence, perhaps, it is, that Solomon calls the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom.

Tillotson.

4. From this source or origin.

All other faces borrowed hence Their light and grace.

Suckling.

Whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts?

James. iv. 1.

Hence is used, elliptically and imperatively, for go hence; depart hence; away; be gone. "Hence with your little ones." Shak. -- From hence, though a pleonasm, is fully authorized by the usage of good writers.

An ancient author prophesied from hence.

Dryden.

Expelled from hence into a world Of woe and sorrow.

Milton.

Hence (?), v. t. To send away. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

Hence`forth" (?), adv. From this time forward; henceforward.

I never from thy side henceforth to stray.

Milton.

Hence`for"ward (?), adv. From this time forward; henceforth.

Hench"boy` (hnch"boi`), n. A page; a servant. [Obs.]

Hench"man (-man), n.; pl. -men (#). [OE. hencheman, henxman; prob. fr. OE. & AS. hengest horse + E. man, and meaning, a groom. AS. hengest is akin to D. & G. hengst stallion, OHG. hengist horse, gelding.] An attendant; a servant; a follower. Now chiefly used as a political cant term.

Hen"coop` (?), n. A coop or cage for hens.

Hende (?), a. [OE., near, handy, kind, fr. AS. gehende near, fr. hand hand. See Handy.] 1. Skillful; dexterous; clever. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Friendly; civil; gentle; kind. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hen*dec"a*gon (?), n. [Gr. &?; eleven + &?; angle: cf. F. hendÈcagone.] (Geom.) A plane figure of eleven sides and eleven angles. [Written also endecagon.]

Hen"de*cane (?), n. [Gr. "e`ndeka eleven.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon, C11H24, of the paraffin series; -- so called because it has eleven atoms of carbon in each molecule. Called also endecane, undecane.

Hen*dec`a*syl*lab"ic (?), a. Pertaining to a line of eleven syllables.

Hen*dec"a*syl`la*ble (?), n. [L. hendecasyllabus, Gr. &?; eleven-syllabled; &?; eleven + &?; syllable: cf. F. hendÈcasyllabe.] A metrical line of eleven syllables. J. Warton.

Hen*dec`a*to"ic (?), a. [See Hendecane.] (Chem.) Undecylic; pertaining to, or derived from, hendecane; as, hendecatoic acid.

Hen*di"a*dys (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; &?; &?; one by two.] (Gram.) A figure in which the idea is expressed by two nouns connected by and, instead of by a noun and limiting adjective; as, we drink from cups and gold, for golden cups.

Hen"dy (?), a. [Obs.] See Hende.

Hen"en (?), adv. Hence. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hen"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) A marine fish; the sea bream. (b) A young bib. See Bib, n., 2.

Heng (?), obs. imp. of Hang. Hung. Chaucer.

Hen"-heart`ed (?), a. Cowardly; timid; chicken-hearted. Udall.

Hen"house` (?), n.; pl. Henhouses. A house or shelter for fowls.

Hen"hus`sy (?), n. A cotquean; a man who intermeddles with women's concerns.

He*ni"quen (?), n. See Jeniquen.

Hen"na (?), n. [Ar. hinn alcanna (Lawsonia inermis or alba). Cf. Alcanna, Alkanet, Orchanet.]

1. (Bot.) A thorny tree or shrub of the genus Lawsonia (L. alba). The fragrant white blossoms are used by the Buddhists in religious ceremonies. The powdered leaves furnish a red coloring matter used in the East to stain the nails and fingers, the manes of horses, etc.

2. (Com.) The leaves of the henna plant, or a preparation or dyestuff made from them.

Hen"ner*y (?), n. An inclosed place for keeping hens. [U. S.]

Hen"nes (?), adv. Hence. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hen`no*tan"nic (?), a. [Henna + tannic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a brown resinous substance resembling tannin, and extracted from the henna plant; as, hennotannic acid.

{ He*nog"e* ny (?), Hen`o*gen"e*sis (?), } n. [Gr. e"i`s, masc., "e`n, neut., one + root of &?; to be born.] (Biol.) Same as Ontogeny.

Hen"o*the*ism (?), n. [Gr. e"i`s, "enos`, one + E. theism.] Primitive religion in which each of several divinities is regarded as independent, and is worshiped without reference to the rest. [R.]

He*not"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to unite, fr. e"i`s one.] Harmonizing; irenic. Gladstone.

Hen"peck` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Henpecked (?); p. pr. & vb. Henpecking.] To subject to petty authority; -- said of a wife who thus treats her husband. Commonly used in the past participle (often adjectively).

Hen"roost` (?), n. A place where hens roost.

Hen"ry (?), n.; pl. Henrys. [From Joseph Henry, an American physicist.] The unit of electric induction; the induction in a circuit when the electro-motive force induced in this circuit is one volt, while the inducing current varies at the rate of one ampËre a second.

Hen's-foot` (&?;), n. (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Caucalis daucoides).

Hent (hnt), v. t. [imp. Hente; p. p. Hent.] [OE. hente, henten, fr. AS. hentan, gehentan, to pursue, take, seize; cf. Icel. henda, Goth. hinpan (in compos.), and E. hunt.] To seize; to lay hold on; to catch; to get. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Spenser.

This cursed Jew him hente and held him fast.

Chaucer.

But all that he might of his friendes hente On bookes and on learning he it spente.

Chaucer.

Hen"ware` (?), n. (Bot.) A coarse, blackish seaweed. See Badderlocks.

Henx"man (?), n. Henchman. [Obs.]

Hep (?), n. See Hip, the fruit of the dog-rose.

||He"par (?), n. [L. hepar, hepatis, the liver, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Old ||Chem.) Liver of sulphur; a substance of a liver-brown color, ||sometimes used in medicine. It is formed by fusing sulphur with ||carbonates of the alkalies (esp. potassium), and consists essentially ||of alkaline sulphides. Called also hepar sulphuris (&?;).

2. Any substance resembling hepar proper, in appearance; specifically, in homeopathy, calcium sulphide, called also hepar sulphuris calcareum (&?;).

Hepar antimonii (&?;) (Old Chem.), a substance, of a liver-brown color, obtained by fusing together antimony sulphide with alkaline sulphides, and consisting of sulphantimonites of the alkalies; -- called also liver of antimony.

He*pat"ic (?), a. [L. hepaticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; the liver; akin to L. jecur, Skr. yak&?;t: cf. F. hÈpatique.] 1. Of or pertaining to the liver; as, hepatic artery; hepatic diseases.

2. Resembling the liver in color or in form; as, hepatic cinnabar.

3. (Bot.) Pertaining to, or resembling, the plants called HepaticÊ, or scale mosses and liverworts.

Hepatic duct (Anat.), any biliary duct; esp., the duct, or one of the ducts, which carries the bile from the liver to the cystic and common bile ducts. See Illust., under Digestive. -- Hepatic gas (Old Chem.), sulphureted hydrogen gas. -- Hepatic mercurial ore, or Hepatic cinnabar. See under Cinnabar.

||He*pat"i*ca (?), n.; pl. HepaticÊ (#). [NL. See Hepatic. So called in ||allusion to the shape of the lobed leaves or fronds.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of pretty spring flowers closely related to Anemone; squirrel cup.

2. (bot.) Any plant, usually procumbent and mosslike, of the cryptogamous class HepaticÊ; -- called also scale moss and liverwort. See HepaticÊ, in the Supplement.

He*pat"ic*al, a. Hepatic. [R.]

Hep"a*tite (?; 277), n. [L. hepatitis an unknown precious stone, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, &?;, the liver: cf. F. hÈpatite.] (Min.) A variety of barite emitting a fetid odor when rubbed or heated.

||Hep`a*ti"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, liver + -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the liver.

Hep`a*ti*za"tion (?), n. 1. (Chem.) Impregnating with sulphureted hydrogen gas. [Obs.]

2. [Cf. F. hÈpatisation.] (Med.) Conversion into a substance resembling the liver; a state of the lungs when gorged with effused matter, so that they are no longer pervious to the air.

Hep"a*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hepatized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hepatizing (?).] [Gr. &?; to be like the liver, to be liver-colored, fr. &?;, &?;, the liver: cf. E. hepatite, and (for sense 2) F. hÈpatiser.] 1. To impregnate with sulphureted hydrogen gas, formerly called hepatic gas.

On the right . . . were two wells of hepatized water.

Barrow.

2. To gorge with effused matter, as the lungs.

He*pat"o*cele (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, the liver + &?; tumor.] (Med.) Hernia of the liver.

Hep`a*to*cys"tic (?), a. [Hepatic + cystic.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the liver and gall bladder; as, the hepatocystic ducts.

Hep`a*to*gas"tric (?), a. [Hepatic + gastric.] (Anat.) See Gastrohepatic.

{ Hep`a*to*gen"ic (?), Hep`a*tog"e*nous (?), } a. [Gr. "h^par, "h`patos, the liver + root of gi`gnesthai to be born] (Med.) Arising from the liver; due to a condition of the liver; as, hepatogenic jaundice.

Hep`a*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. "h^par, "h`patos, the liver + -logy.] The science which treats of the liver; a treatise on the liver.

Hep"a*to-pan"cre*as (?), n. [Gr. "h^par, "h`patos, the liver + E. pancreas.] (Zoˆl.) A digestive gland in Crustacea, Mollusca, etc., usually called the liver, but different from the liver of vertebrates.

Hep`a*to*re"nal (?), a. [Hepatic + renal.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the liver and kidneys; as, the hepatorenal ligament.

Hep`a*tos"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?;; fr. "h^par, "h`patos, the liver + &?; to view: cf. F. hÈpatoscopie.] Divination by inspecting the liver of animals.

Hep"pen (?), a. [Cf. AS. gehÊp fit, Icel. heppinn lucky, E. happy.] Neat; fit; comfortable. [Obs.]

Hep"per (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoˆl.) A young salmon; a parr.

Hep"ta (?). [See Seven.] A combining form from Gr. "epta`, seven.

Hep"ta*chord (?), n. [Gr. "epta`xordos seven-stringed; "epta` seven + xordh` chord: cf. F. heptacorde. See Seven, and Chord.] 1. (Anc. Mus.) (a) A system of seven sounds. (b) A lyre with seven chords.

2. (Anc. Poet.) A composition sung to the sound of seven chords or tones. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Hep"tad (?), n. [L. heptas the number seven. Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. "epta` seven.] (Chem.) An atom which has a valence of seven, and which can be theoretically combined with, substituted for, or replaced by, seven monad atoms or radicals; as, iodine is a heptad in iodic acid. Also used as an adjective.

Hep"tade (?), n. [Cf. F. heptade. See Heptad.] The sum or number of seven.

Hep"ta*glot (?), n. [Gr. &?;; "epta` seven + 3, &?;, tongue, language.] A book in seven languages.

Hep"ta*gon (?), n. [Gr. &?; sevencornered; "epta` seven + &?; angle: cf. F. heptagone.] (Geom.) A plane figure consisting of seven sides and having seven angles.

Hep*tag"o*nal (?), a. [Cf. F. heptagonal.] Having seven angles or sides.

Heptagonal numbers (Arith.), the numbers of the series 1, 7, 18, 34, 55, etc., being figurate numbers formed by adding successively the terms of the arithmetical series 1, 6, 11, 16, 21, etc.

||Hep`ta*gyn"i*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. "epta` seven + &?; woman, ||female: cf. F. heptagunie.] (Bot.) A LinnÊan order of plants having ||seven pistils.

{ Hep`ta*gyn"i*an (?), Hep*tag"y*nous (?), } a. [Cf. F. heptagyne.] (Bot.) Having seven pistils.

Hep`ta*he"dron (?), n. [Hepta- + Gr. &?; seat, base, fr. &?; to sit: cf. F. heptaËdre.] (Geom.) A solid figure with seven sides.

Hep*tam"er*ous (?), a. [Hepta- + Gr. &?; part.] (Bot.) Consisting of seven parts, or having the parts in sets of sevens. Gray.

||Hep*tan"dri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. "epta` seven + &?;, &?;, man, ||male: cf. F. heptandrie.] (Bot.) A LinnÊan class of plants having ||seven stamens.

{ Hep*tan"dri*an (?), Hep*tan"drous (?), } a. [Cf. F. heptandre.] (Bot.) Having seven stamens.

Hep"tane (?), n. [Gr. "epta` seven.] (Chem.) Any one of several isometric hydrocarbons, C7H16, of the paraffin series (nine are possible, four are known); -- so called because the molecule has seven carbon atoms. Specifically, a colorless liquid, found as a constituent of petroleum, in the tar oil of cannel coal, etc.

Hep*tan"gu*lar (?), a. [Hepta- + angular: cf. F. heptangulaire. Cf. Septangular.] Having seven angles.

Hep*taph"yl*lous (?), a. [Hepta- + Gr. &?; leaf: cf. F. heptaphylle.] (Bot.) Having seven leaves.

Hep"tarch (?), n. Same as Heptarchist.

Hep*tar"chic (?), a. [Cf. F. heptarchique.] Of or pertaining to a heptarchy; constituting or consisting of a heptarchy. T. Warton.

Hep"tarch*ist (?), n. A ruler of one division of a heptarchy. [Written also heptarch.]

Hep"tarch*y (?), n. [Hepta- + -archy: cf. F. heptarchie.] A government by seven persons; also, a country under seven rulers.

The word is most commonly applied to England, when it was divided into seven kingdoms; as, the Saxon heptachy, which consisted of Kent, the South Saxons (Sussex), West Saxons (Wessex), East Saxons (Essex), the East Angles, Mercia, and Northumberland.

Hep`ta*sper"mous (?), a. [Hepta- + Gr. &?; a seed.] (Bot.) Having seven seeds.

Hep"ta*stich (?), n. [Hepta- + Gr. sti`chos line, verse.] (Pros.) A composition consisting of seven lines or verses.

Hep"ta*teuch (?), n. [L. heptateuchos, Gr. "epta` seven + &?; tool, book; &?; to prepare, make, work: cf. F. heptateuque.] The first seven books of the Testament.

Hep*tav"a*lent (?), a. [Hepta- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.) Having seven units of attractive force or affinity; -- said of heptad elements or radicals.

Hep"tene (?), n. [Gr. "epta` seven.] (Chem.) Same as Heptylene.

Hep"tine (?), n. [Heptane + - ine.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of unsaturated metameric hydrocarbons, C7H12, of the acetylene series.

Hep*to"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, heptane; as, heptoic acid.

Hep"tone (?), n. [Gr. "epta` seven.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C7H10, of the valylene series.

Hep" tree` (?). [See Hep.] The wild dog- rose.

Hep"tyl (?), n. [Hepta- + - yl.] (Chem.) A compound radical, C7H15, regarded as the essential radical of heptane and a related series of compounds.

Hep"tyl*ene (?), n. (Chem.) A colorless liquid hydrocarbon, C7H14, of the ethylene series; also, any one of its isomers. Called also heptene.

Hep*tyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, heptyl or heptane; as, heptylic alcohol. Cf. ånanthylic.

Her (?), pron. & a. [OE. hire, here, hir, hure, gen. and dat. sing., AS. hire, gen. and dat. sing. of hÈo she. from the same root as E. he. See He.] The form of the objective and the possessive case of the personal pronoun she; as, I saw her with her purse out.

The possessive her takes the form hers when the noun with which in agrees is not given, but implied. "And what his fortune wanted, hers could mend." Dryden.

Her, Here (&?;), pron. pl. [OE. here, hire, AS. heora, hyra, gen. pl. of h. See He.] Of them; their. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

On here bare knees adown they fall.

Chaucer.

He*rac"le*on*ite (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Heracleon of Alexandria, a Judaizing Gnostic, in the early history of the Christian church.

He*rak"line (?), n. [Gr. &?; Hercules.] A picrate compound, used as an explosive in blasting.

Her"ald (?), n. [OE. herald, heraud, OF. heralt, heraut, herault, F. hÈraut, LL. heraldus, haraldus, fr. (assumed) OHG. heriwalto, hariwaldo, a (civil) officer who serves the army; hari, heri, army + waltan to manage, govern, G. walten; akin to E. wield. See Harry, Wield.] 1. (Antiq.) An officer whose business was to denounce or proclaim war, to challenge to battle, to proclaim peace, and to bear messages from the commander of an army. He was invested with a sacred and inviolable character.

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2. In the Middle Ages, the officer charged with the above duties, and also with the care of genealogies, of the rights and privileges of noble families, and especially of armorial bearings. In modern times, some vestiges of this office remain, especially in England. See Heralds' College (below), and King-at-Arms.

3. A proclaimer; one who, or that which, publishes or announces; as, the herald of another's fame. Shak.

4. A forerunner; a a precursor; a harbinger.

It was the lark, the herald of the morn.

Shak.

5. Any messenger. "My herald is returned." Shak.

Heralds' College, in England, an ancient corporation, dependent upon the crown, instituted or perhaps recognized by Richard III. in 1483, consisting of the three Kings-at- Arms and the Chester, Lancaster, Richmond, Somerset, Windsor, and York Heralds, together with the Earl Marshal. This retains from the Middle Ages the charge of the armorial bearings of persons privileged to bear them, as well as of genealogies and kindred subjects; -- called also College of Arms.

Her"ald (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heralded; p. pr. & vb. n. Heralding.] [Cf. OF. herauder, heraulder.] To introduce, or give tidings of, as by a herald; to proclaim; to announce; to foretell; to usher in. Shak.

He*ral"dic (?), a. [Cf. F. hÈraldique.] Of or pertaining to heralds or heraldry; as, heraldic blazoning; heraldic language. T. Warton.

He*ral"dic*al*ly (?), adv. In an heraldic manner; according to the rules of heraldry.

Her"ald*ry (?), n. The art or office of a herald; the art, practice, or science of recording genealogies, and blazoning arms or ensigns armorial; also, of marshaling cavalcades, processions, and public ceremonies.

Her"ald*ship, n. The office of a herald. Selden.

Her"a*path*ite (?), n. [Named after Dr. Herapath, the discoverer.] (Chem.) The sulphate of iodoquinine, a substance crystallizing in thin plates remarkable for their effects in polarizing light.

Her"aud (?), n. A herald. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Herb (?; 277), n. [OE. herbe, erbe, OF. herbe, erbe, F. herbe, L. herba; perh. akin to Gr. forbh` food, pasture, fe`rbein to feed.] 1. A plant whose stem does not become woody and permanent, but dies, at least down to the ground, after flowering.

Annual herbs live but one season; biennial herbs flower the second season, and then die; perennial herbs produce new stems year after year.

2. Grass; herbage.

And flocks Grazing the tender herb.

Milton.