Part 814

Her"ring*bone` (hr"rng*bn`), a. Pertaining to, or like, the spine of a herring; especially, characterized by an arrangement of work in rows of parallel lines, which in the alternate rows slope in different directions.

Herringbone stitch, a kind of cross-stitch in needlework, chiefly used in flannel. Simmonds.

Herrn"hut*er (hrn"h*r; G. hrn"h*r), n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of the Moravians; -- so called from the settlement of Herrnhut (the Lord's watch) made, about 1722, by the Moravians at the invitation of Nicholas Lewis, count of Zinzendorf, upon his estate in the circle of Bautzen.

Hers (hrz), pron. See the Note under Her, pron.

Her"sal (?), n. Rehearsal. [Obs.] Spenser.

Her"schel (?), n. (Astron.) See Uranus.

Her*sche"li*an (?), a. Of or relating to Sir William Herschel; as, the Herschelian telescope.

Herse (hrs), n. [F. herse harrow, portcullis, OF. herce, LL. hercia, L. hirpex, gen. hirpicis, and irpex, gen. irpicis, harrow. The LL. hercia signifies also a kind of candlestick in the form of a harrow, having branches filled with lights, and placed at the head of graves or cenotaphs; whence herse came to be used for the grave, coffin, or chest containing the dead. Cf. Hearse.] 1. (Fort.) A kind of gate or portcullis, having iron bars, like a harrow, studded with iron spikes. It is hung above gateways so that it may be quickly lowered, to impede the advance of an enemy. Farrow.

2. See Hearse, a carriage for the dead.

3. A funeral ceremonial. [Obs.] Spenser.

Herse, v. t. Same as Hearse, v. t. Chapman.

Her*self" (?), pron. 1. An emphasized form of the third person feminine pronoun; -- used as a subject with she; as, she herself will bear the blame; also used alone in the predicate, either in the nominative or objective case; as, it is herself; she blames herself.

2. Her own proper, true, or real character; hence, her right, or sane, mind; as, the woman was deranged, but she is now herself again; she has come to herself.

By herself, alone; apart; unaccompanied.

Her"sil*lon (?), n. [F., fr. herse a harrow. See Herse, n.] (Fort.) A beam with projecting spikes, used to make a breach impassable.

Hert (?), n. A hart. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Her"te (?), n. A heart. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Her"te*ly, a. & adv. Hearty; heartily. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Her"y (?), v. t. [AS. herian.] To worship; to glorify; to praise. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

Hes"i*tan*cy (?), n. [L. haesitantia a stammering.] 1. The act of hesitating, or pausing to consider; slowness in deciding; vacillation; also, the manner of one who hesitates.

2. A stammering; a faltering in speech.

Hes"i*tant (?), a. [L. haesitans, p. pr. of haesitare: cf. F. hÈsitant. See Hesitate.] 1. Not prompt in deciding or acting; hesitating.

2. Unready in speech. Baxter.

Hes"i*tant*ly, adv. With hesitancy or doubt.

Hes"i*tate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hesitated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Hesitating.] [L. haesitatus, p. p. of haesitare, intens. fr. haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast. Cf. Aghast, Gaze, Adhere.]

1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment. Pope.

2. To stammer; to falter in speaking.

Syn. -- To doubt; waver; scruple; deliberate; demur; falter; stammer.