Half - Hallucination

Prev Next

Half, adv. In an equal part or degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly; as, half-colored, half done, half-hearted, half persuaded, half conscious. “Half loth and half consenting.” Dryden.
[ Webster]

Their children spoke halfin the speech of Ashdod. Neh. xiii. 24.
[ Webster]

Half (häf), n.; pl. Halves (hävz). [AS. healf. See , a.] 1. Part; side; behalf. [Obs.] Wyclif.
[ Webster]

The four halves of the house. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

2. One of two equal parts into which anything may be divided, or considered as divided; -- sometimes followed by of; as, a half of an apple.
[ Webster]

Not half his riches known, and yet despised. Milton.
[ Webster]

A friendship so complete
Portioned in halves between us. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Better half . See under . -- Coloq. In half , in two; an expression sometimes used improperly instead of in halves or into halves; as, to cut in half. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- Coloq. In one's half or Coloq. On one's half , in one's behalf; on one's part. [Obs.] -- Coloq. To cry halves , to claim an equal share with another. -- Coloq. To go halves , to share equally between two.
[ Webster]

Half, v. t. To halve. [Obs.] See . Sir H. Wotton.
[ Webster]

Half-and-half, n. A mixture of two malt liquors, esp. porter and ale, in about equal parts. Dickens.
[ Webster]

halfback n. (Football) A person who plays the position of halfback{2} on a football team.
Syn. -- running back.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. The position of either of two players on a football team who typically begins each play behind the line and on either side of the quarterback.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

half-baked a. 1. Insufficiently or poorly planned or thought out; impractical or unrealistic; as, a half-baked proposal; half-baked ideas; -- of plans, theories, proposals, etc.
[PJC]

2. Insufficiently cooked; -- of food.
[PJC]

Halfbeak (häfbēk), n. (Zoöl.) Any slender, marine fish of the genus Hemirhamphus, or of the family Hemiramphidae, having an elongated protruding lower jaw; -- called also balahoo.
[ Webster]

Half blood (häfblŭd). 1. The relation between persons born of the same father or of the same mother, but not of both; as, a brother or sister of the half blood. See , n., 2 and 4.
[ Webster]

2. A person so related to another.
[ Webster]

3. A person whose father and mother are of different races; a half-breed.
[ Webster]

☞ In the 2d and 3d senses usually with a hyphen.
[ Webster]

Half-blooded, a. 1. Proceeding from a male and female of different breeds or races; having only one parent of good stock; as, a half-blooded sheep.
[ Webster]

2. Degenerate; mean. Shak.
[ Webster]

Half-boot (häfb�t), n. A boot with a short top covering only the ankle. See , and Congress boot, under .
[ Webster]

Half-bound (-bound), n. Having only the back and corners in leather, as a book.
[ Webster]

Half-bred (-brĕd), a. 1. Half-blooded. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

2. Imperfectly acquainted with the rules of good-breeding; not well trained. Atterbury.
[ Webster]

Half-breed (-brēd), a. Half-blooded.
[ Webster]

Half-breed, n. A person who is half-blooded; the offspring of parents of different races, especially of the American Indian and the white race.
[ Webster]

Half-brother (-brŭthẽr), n. A brother by one parent, but not by both.
[ Webster]

Half-caste (-kȧst), n. One born of a European parent on the one side, and of a Hindu or Mohammedan on the other. Also adjective; as, half-caste parents.
[ Webster]

Half-clammed (-klămd), a. Half-filled. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Lions' half-clammed entrails roar for food. Marston.
[ Webster]

Halfcock (-kŏk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Halfcocked(-kŏkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Halfcocking.] To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To go off half-cocked , Coloq. To go off halfcocked . (a) To be discharged prematurely, or with the trigger at half cock; -- said of a firearm. (b) To do or say something without due thought or care. [Colloq. or Low]
[ Webster]

Half-cracked (-krăkt), a. Half-demented; half-witted. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Half-deck (-dĕk), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A shell of the genus Crepidula; a boat shell. See .
[ Webster]

2. See Half deck, under .
[ Webster]

Half-decked (-dĕkt), a. Partially decked.
[ Webster]

The half-decked craft . . . used by the latter Vikings. Elton.
[ Webster]

Halfen (-'n), a. [From .] Wanting half its due qualities. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Halfendeal (-'ndēl), adv. [OE. halfendele. See , and .] Half; by the half part. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- n. A half part. [Obs.] R. of Brunne.
[ Webster]

Halfer (-ẽr), n. 1. One who possesses or gives half only; one who shares. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.
[ Webster]

2. A male fallow deer gelded. Pegge (1814).
[ Webster]

Half-faced (-fāst), a. Showing only part of the face; wretched looking; meager. Shak.
[ Webster]

Half-fish (-fĭsh), n. (Zoöl.) A salmon in its fifth year of growth. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Half-hatched (-hăcht), a. Imperfectly hatched; as, half-hatched eggs. Gay.
[ Webster]

Half-heard (-hẽrd), a. Imperfectly or partly heard; not heard to the end.
[ Webster]

And leave half-heard the melancholy tale. Pope.
[ Webster]

halfhearted, Half-hearted (-härtĕd), a. 1. Wanting in heart or spirit; ungenerous; unkind. B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

2. Lacking zeal or courage; performed with less than a full effort; lukewarm; unenthusiastic; as, a half-hearted attempt; -- of actions. [wns=1] H. James.
[ Webster +PJC]

half-holiday n. a day on which half of the day is free from work or duty; a holiday of one half of a day.
[WordNet 1.5]

Half-hourly (-ourl�), a. Done or happening at intervals of half an hour.
[ Webster]

Half-learned (häflẽrnd), a. Imperfectly learned.
[ Webster]

Half-length (-lĕngth), a. Of half the whole or ordinary length, as a picture.
[ Webster]

Half-life (häflīf), n. (Physics) the time it takes for one-half of a substance decaying in a first-order reaction to be destroyed. For radioactive substances, it is the time required for one-half of the initial amount of the radioactive isotope to decay. The half-lifeis a measure of the rate of the reaction being observed. For processes that are true first-order processes, such as radioactive decay, the half-life is independent of the quantity of material present, and it is thus a constant. The time it takes for one-half the remaining quantity of a radioactive isotope to decay will be the same regardless of how far the decay process has advanced. Some chemical reactions are also first order, and may be characterized as having a half-life. However, for chemical reactions the half-life will depend upon temperature and in some cases other environmental conditions, whereas for radioactive isotopes the rate of decay is largely independent of the environment.
[PJC]

half-light n. a grayish light (as at dawn or dusk or in dim interiors).
[WordNet 1.5]

Half-mast (-mȧst), n. A point some distance below the top of a mast or staff; as, a flag a half-mast (a token of mourning, etc.).
[ Webster]

Half-moon (-m�n), n. 1. The moon at the quarters, when half its disk appears illuminated.
[ Webster]

2. The shape of a half-moon; a crescent.
[ Webster]

See how in warlike muster they appear,
In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings. Milton.
[ Webster]

3. (Fort.) An outwork composed of two faces, forming a salient angle whose gorge resembles a half-moon; -- now called a ravelin.
[ Webster]

4. (Zoöl.) A marine, sparoid, food fish of California (Cæsiosoma Californiense). The body is ovate, blackish above, blue or gray below. Called also medialuna.
[ Webster]

Half nelson. (Wrestling) A hold in which one arm is thrust under the corresponding arm of the opponent, generally behind, and the hand placed upon the back of his neck. In the Coloq. full nelson both hands are so placed.
[Webster Suppl.]

Halfness (häfnĕs), n. The quality of being half; incompleteness. [R.]
[ Webster]

As soon as there is any departure from simplicity, and attempt at halfness, or good for me that is not good for him, my neighbor feels the wrong. Emerson.
[ Webster]

Halfpace (-pās), n. (Arch.) A platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight. See .
[ Webster]

☞ This term and quarterpace are rare or unknown in the United States, platform or landing being used instead.
[ Webster]

halfpence (hāpĕns), n. an English coin worth half a penny; -- no longer minted.
Syn. -- halfpenny, ha'penny.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

halfpenny, half-penny (hāpĕnn� or häf-; 277), n.;pl. Half-pence (-p�ns) or Half-pennies(-pĕnnĭz). An English coin of the value of half a penny, no longer minted; also, the value of half a penny.
Syn. -- ha'penny.
[ Webster + WordNet 1.5]

halfpennyworth n. the amount that can be bought for a halfpenny.
Syn. -- ha'p'orth.
[WordNet 1.5]

Half-pike (häfpīk), n. (Mil.) A short pike, sometimes carried by officers of infantry, sometimes used in boarding ships; a spontoon. Tatler.
[ Webster]

Half-port (-pōrt), n. (Naut.) One half of a shutter made in two parts for closing a porthole.
[ Webster]

Half-ray (-rā), n. (Geom.) A straight line considered as drawn from a center to an indefinite distance in one direction, the complete ray being the whole line drawn to an indefinite distance in both directions.
[ Webster]

Half-read (-rĕd), a. Informed by insufficient reading; superficial; shallow. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Half seas over (sēz ōvẽr). Half drunk. [Slang: used only predicatively.] Spectator.
[ Webster]

Half-sighted (-sītĕd), a. Seeing imperfectly; having weak discernment. Bacon.
[ Webster]

Half-sister (-sĭstẽr), n. A sister by one parent only.
[ Webster]

Half-strained (häfstrānd), a. Half-bred; imperfect. [R.] “A half-strained villain.” Dryden.
[ Webster]

Half-sword (häfsōrd), n. Half the length of a sword; close fight. “At half-sword.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Half-timbered (häftĭmbẽrd), a. (Arch.) Constructed of a timber frame, having the spaces filled in with masonry; -- said of buildings.
[ Webster]

halftime n. an intermission between the first and second half of a game, especially a football game. Also used attributively, as the halftime entertainment
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

{ Half tone, or Half-tone }, n. 1. (Fine Arts) An intermediate or middle tone in a painting, engraving, photograph, etc.; a middle tint, neither very dark nor very light.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. (Music) A half step.
[Webster Suppl.]

3. A print obtained by the half-tone photo-engraving process. [wns=1]
[PJC]

4. the etched plate used to reproduce a half-tone illustration. [wns=4]
Syn. -- halftone engraving, photoengraving.
[WordNet 1.5]

Half-tone (häftōn), a. Having, consisting of, or pertaining to, half tones; specif. (Photo-engraving), pertaining to or designating plates, processes, or the pictures made by them, in which gradation of tone in the photograph is reproduced by a graduated system of dotted and checkered spots, usually nearly invisible to the unaided eye, produced by the interposition between the camera and the object of a screen. The name alludes to the fact that this process was the first that was practically successful in reproducing the half tones of the photograph.
[Webster Suppl.]

Half-tongue (häftŭng), n. (O. Law) A jury, for the trial of a foreigner, composed equally of citizens and aliens.
[ Webster]

half-track, half-tracked adj. having caterpillar treads on the rear and wheels in front; as, half-track armored vehicles.
Syn. -- half-track.
[WordNet 1.5]

half-track n. a half-tracked vehicle; -- used mostly of armored military vehicles.
[PJC]

half-truth (häftr�th), n.; pl. half-truths (häftr��z). a partially true statement, especially one intended to deceive or mislead.
[WordNet 1.5]

Halfway (häfwā), adv. In the middle; at half the distance; imperfectly; partially; as, he halfway yielded.
[ Webster]

Temples proud to meet their gods halfway. Young.
[ Webster]

Halfway, a. Equally distant from the extremes; situated at an intermediate point; midway; as, at the halfway mark. [wns=1]
Syn. -- center(prenominal), middle(prenominal), midway.
[ Webster]

2. partial. [wns=2]
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

3. including only half or a portion; incomplete; as, halfway measures. [wns=3]
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Coloq. Halfway covenant , a practice among the Congregational churches of New England, between 1657 and 1662, of permitting baptized persons of moral life and orthodox faith to enjoy all the privileges of church membership, save the partaking of the Lord's Supper. They were also allowed to present their children for baptism.
[ Webster]

halfway house, 1. an inn or place of call midway on a journey.
[ Webster]

2. A residence for former convicts, persons recovering from mental illness, or from drug or alcohol addiction, serving as an intermediate environment between total confinement and complete freedom, and having structured programs designed to ease successful reintegration into society.
[PJC]

Half-wit (-wĭt), n. A foolish person; a dolt; a blockhead; a dunce. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Half-witted (-tĕd), a. Weak in intellect; silly.
[ Webster]

Half-yearly (-yērl�), a. Two in a year; semiannual. -- adv. Twice in a year; semiannually.
[ Webster]

Halibut (hŏlĭbŭt; 277), n. [OE. hali holy + but, butte, flounder; akin to D. bot, G. butte; cf. D. heilbot, G. heilbutt. So named as being eaten on holidays. See , .] (Zoöl.) A large, northern, marine flatfish (Hippoglossus vulgaris), of the family Pleuronectidæ. It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]
[ Webster]

Halichondriæ (hălĭkŏndrĭē), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. als, alos, sea + chondros cartilage.] (Zoöl.) An order of sponges, having simple siliceous spicules and keratose fibers; -- called also Keratosilicoidea.
[ Webster]

Halicore (hălĭkōr; L. hȧlĭk�rē), n. [NL., fr. Gr. als sea + korh maiden.] Same as .
[ Webster]

Halidom (hălĭdŭm), n. [AS. hāligdōm holiness, sacrament, sanctuary, relics; hālig holy + -dōm, E. -dom. See .] 1. Holiness; sanctity; sacred oath; sacred things; sanctuary; -- used chiefly in oaths. [Archaic]
[ Webster]

So God me help and halidom. Piers Plowman.
[ Webster]

By my halidom, I was fast asleep. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Holy doom; the Last Day. [R.] Shipley.
[ Webster]

Halieutics (-ūtĭks), n. [L. halieuticus pertaining to fishing, Gr. alieytikos.] A treatise upon fish or the art of fishing; ichthyology.
[ Webster]

Halimas (-măs), a. [See .] The feast of All Saints; Hallowmas. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Halimodendron n. A genus of trees consisting of one species, the salt tree.
Syn. -- genus Halimodendron.
[WordNet 1.5]

Haliographer (hālĭŏgrȧfẽr or hălĭ-), n. One who writes about or describes the sea.
[ Webster]

Haliography (-f�), n. [Gr. als the sea + -graphy.] Description of the sea; the science that treats of the sea.
[ Webster]

Haliotidae prop. n. A natural family of mollusks including the (Haliotis).
Syn. -- family Haliotidae.
[WordNet 1.5]

Haliotis (hālĭōtĭs or hălĭ-), prop. n. [NL., fr. Gr. als sea + o'y^s, 'wtos, ear.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine shells; the ear-shells. See .
[ Webster]

Haliotoid (hālĭ�toid or hălĭ-), a. [Haliotis + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Haliotis; ear-shaped.
[ Webster]

Halisauria (hălĭs�rĭȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. als, alos, sea + say^ros.] (Paleon.) The Enaliosauria.
[ Webster]

Halite (hālīt or hălīt), n. [Gr. als salt.] (Min.) Native salt; sodium chloride.
[ Webster]

Halituous (hȧlĭt�ŭs; 135), a. [L. halitus breath, vapor, fr. halare to breathe: cf. F. halitueux.] Produced by, or like, breath; vaporous. Boyle.
[ Webster]

Halk (h�k), n. A nook; a corner. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Hall (h�l), n. [OE. halle, hal, AS. heal, heall; akin to D. hal, OS. & OHG. halla, G. halle, Icel. höll, and prob. from a root meaning, to hide, conceal, cover. See , .] 1. A building or room of considerable size and stateliness, used for public purposes; as, Westminster Hall, in London.
[ Webster]

2. (a) The chief room in a castle or manor house, and in early times the only public room, serving as the place of gathering for the lord's family with the retainers and servants, also for cooking and eating. It was often contrasted with the bower, which was the private or sleeping apartment.
[ Webster]

Full sooty was her bower and eke her hall. Chaucer.

Hence, as the entrance from outside was directly into the hall: (b) A vestibule, entrance room, etc., in the more elaborated buildings of later times. Hence: (c) Any corridor or passage in a building.
[ Webster]

3. A name given to many manor houses because the magistrate's court was held in the hall of his mansion; a chief mansion house. Cowell.
[ Webster]

4. A college in an English university (at Oxford, an unendowed college).
[ Webster]

5. The apartment in which English university students dine in common; hence, the dinner itself; as, hall is at six o'clock.
[ Webster]

6. Cleared passageway in a crowd; -- formerly an exclamation. [Obs.] “A hall! a hall!” B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Entry; court; passage. See .
[ Webster]

Hallage (-�j; 48), n. (O. Eng. Law) A fee or toll paid for goods sold in a hall.

{ Halleluiah, Hallelujah } (hăll�lūyȧ), n. & interj. [Heb. See .] Praise ye Jehovah; praise ye the Lord; -- an exclamation used chiefly in songs of praise or thanksgiving to God, and as an expression of gratitude or adoration. Rev. xix. 1 (Rev. Ver. )
[ Webster]

So sung they, and the empyrean rung
With Hallelujahs. Milton.
[ Webster]

In those days, as St. Jerome tells us,“any one as he walked in the fields, might hear the plowman at his hallelujahs.” Sharp.
[ Webster]

Hallelujatic (-l�yătĭk), a. Pertaining to, or containing, hallelujahs. [R.]
[ Webster]

Halliard (hălyẽrd), n. See .
[ Webster]

Hallidome (hăllĭdōm), n. Same as .
[ Webster]

Hallier (hăllĭẽr or h�lyẽr), n. [From to pull.] A kind of net for catching birds.
[ Webster]

Hall-mark (h�lmärk), n. 1. The official stamp of the Goldsmiths' Company and other assay offices, in the United Kingdom, on gold and silver articles, attesting their purity.
[ Webster]

2. Hence, [figuratively]: A distinguishing characteristic or characteristics; as, a word or phrase lacks the hall-mark of the best writers.
[ Webster +PJC]

Halloa (hăllō). See .
[ Webster]

Halloo (hăll�), n. [Perh. fr. ah + lo; cf. AS. ealā, G. halloh, F. haler to set (a dog) on. Cf. , interj.] A loud exclamation; a call to invite attention or to incite a person or an animal; a shout.
[ Webster]

List! List! I hear
Some far off halloo break the silent air. Milton.
[ Webster]

Halloo, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hallooed (-l�d); p. pr. & vb. n. Hallooing.] To cry out; to exclaim with a loud voice; to call to a person, as by the word halloo.
[ Webster]

Country folks hallooed and hooted after me. Sir P. Sidney.
[ Webster]

Halloo, v. t. 1. To encourage with shouts.
[ Webster]

Old John hallooes his hounds again. Prior.
[ Webster]

2. To chase with shouts or outcries.
[ Webster]

If I fly . . . Halloo me like a hare. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. To call or shout to; to hail. Shak.
[ Webster]

Halloo, interj. [OE. halow. See , n.] An exclamation to call attention or to encourage one. Now mostly replaced by .
[ Webster]

Hallow (hăll�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hallowed(-l�d); p. pr. & vb. n. Hallowing.] [OE. halowen, halwien, halgien, AS. hālgian, fr. hālig holy. See .] To make holy; to set apart for holy or religious use; to consecrate; to treat or keep as sacred; to reverence. “Hallowed be thy name.” Matt. vi. 9.
[ Webster]

Hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work therein. Jer. xvii. 24.
[ Webster]

His secret altar touched with hallowed fire. Milton.
[ Webster]

In a larger sense . . . we can not hallow this ground [Gettysburg]. A. Lincoln.
[ Webster]

hallowed adj. belonging to or derived from or associated with a divine power; made holy. Opposite of unholy. [Narrower terms: beatified, blessed ; blessed ; consecrated, sacred, sanctified ] Also See: , , .
Syn. -- holy.
[WordNet 1.5]

Halloween (hăll�ēn), n. The evening preceding Allhallows or All Saints' Day (November 1); also the entire day, October 31. It is often marked by parties or celebrations, and sometimes by pranks played by young people. [Scot.] Burns.
Syn. -- Hallowe'en, Allhallows Eve.
[ Webster + WordNet 1.5]

Hallowmas (hăll�mȧs), n. [See the eucharist.] The feast of All Saints, or Allhallows.
[ Webster]

To speak puling, like a beggar at Hallowmas. Shak.
[ Webster]

Halloysite (hălloisīt), n. [Named after Omalius d'Halloy.] (Min.) A claylike mineral, occurring in soft, smooth, amorphous masses, of a whitish color.
[ Webster]

{ Hallstatt (hälstät; -shtät), Hallstattian (hälstättĭ�n) }, a. Of or pertaining to Hallstatt, Austria, or the Hallstatt civilization.
[Webster Suppl.]

-- Coloq. Hallstatt civilization or Coloq. Hallstattian civilization , a prehistoric civilization of central Europe, variously dated at from 1000 to 1500 b. c. and usually associated with the Celtic or Alpine race. It was characterized by expert use of bronze, a knowledge of iron, possession of domestic animals, agriculture, and artistic skill and sentiment in manufacturing pottery, ornaments, etc.
[Webster Suppl.]
The Hallstattian civilization flourished chiefly in Carinthia, southern Germany, Switzerland, Bohemia, Silesia, Bosnia, the southeast of France, and southern Italy. J. Deniker.
[Webster Suppl.]
-- Coloq. Hallstattian epoch , the first iron age, represented by the Hallstatt civilization.
[Webster Suppl.]

Hallucal (hăll�k�l), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the hallux.
[ Webster]

Hallucinate (hăllūsĭnāt), v. i. [L. hallucinatus, alucinatus, p. p. of hallucinari, alucinari, to wander in mind, talk idly, dream.] 1. To wander; to go astray; to err; to blunder; -- used of mental processes. [R.] Byron.
[ Webster]

2. Specifically: To perceive a non-existent object or phenomenon; to believe that one is experiencing something which in reality does not exist; to experience a hallucination{2}.
[PJC]

hallucinate (hăllūsĭnāt), v. t. To experience (something nonexistent) as an hallucination{2}.
[PJC]

hallucinating adj. Experiencing hallucinations.
Syn. -- delirious.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Hallucination (-nāshŭn), n. [L. hallucinatio: cf. F. hallucination.] 1. The act of hallucinating; a wandering of the mind; error; mistake; a blunder.
[ Webster]

This must have been the hallucination of the transcriber. Addison.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z