Part 812

Chaucer.

Her"ni*a (?), n.; pl. E. Hernias (#), L. HerniÊ (#). [L.] (Med.) A protrusion, consisting of an organ or part which has escaped from its natural cavity, and projects through some natural or accidental opening in the walls of the latter; as, hernia of the brain, of the lung, or of the bowels. Hernia of the abdominal viscera in most common. Called also rupture.

Strangulated hernia, a hernia so tightly compressed in some part of the channel through which it has been protruded as to arrest its circulation, and produce swelling of the protruded part. It may occur in recent or chronic hernia, but is more common in the latter.

Her"ni*al (?), a. Of, or connected with, hernia.

Her`ni*ot"o*my (?), n. [Hernia + Gr. &?; to cut.] (Med.) A cutting for the cure or relief of hernia; celotomy.

Hern"shaw (?), n. Heronshaw. [Obs.] Spenser.

He"ro (?), n.; pl. Heroes (#). [F. hÈros, L. heros, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Myth.) 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 ∆neas in the ∆neid.

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.

He*ro"di*an (?), n. (Jewish Hist.) One of a party among the Jews, composed of partisans of Herod of Galilee. They joined with the Pharisees against Christ.

||He*ro`di*o"nes (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a heron.] (Zoˆl.) A ||division of wading birds, including the herons, storks, and allied ||forms. Called also Herodii. -- He*ro`di*o"nine (#), a.

He"ro*ess (?), n. A heroine. [Obs.] Dryden.

He*ro"ic (?), a. [F. hÈroÔque, L. heroÔcus, Gr. &?;.] 1. Of or pertaining to, or like, a hero; of the nature of heroes; distinguished by the existence of heroes; as, the heroic age; an heroic people; heroic valor.

2. Worthy of a hero; bold; daring; brave; illustrious; as, heroic action; heroic enterprises.

3. (Sculpture & Painting) Larger than life size, but smaller than colossal; -- said of the representation of a human figure.

Heroic Age, the age when the heroes, or those called the children of the gods, are supposed to have lived. -- Heroic poetry, that which celebrates the deeds of a hero; epic poetry. -- Heroic treatment or remedies (Med.), treatment or remedies of a severe character, suited to a desperate case. -- Heroic verse (Pros.), the verse of heroic or epic poetry, being in English, German, and Italian the iambic of ten syllables; in French the iambic of twelve syllables; and in classic poetry the hexameter.

Syn. -- Brave; intrepid; courageous; daring; valiant; bold; gallant; fearless; enterprising; noble; magnanimous; illustrious.

He*ro"ic*al (?), a. Heroic. [R.] Spectator. -- He*ro"ic*al*ly, adv. -- He*ro"ic*al*ness, n.

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He*ro"ic*ness (?), n. Heroism. [R.] W. Montagu.

{ He`ro*i*com"ic (?), He`ro*i*com"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. hÈroÔcomigue. See Heroic, and Comic.] Combining the heroic and the ludicrous; denoting high burlesque; as, a heroicomic poem.