Harebrained - Harmony

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Harebrained (hârbrānd), a. Wild; giddy; volatile; heedless. “A mad hare-brained fellow.” North (Plutarch). [Written also hairbrained.]
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Harefoot (-f�t), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A long, narrow foot, carried (that is, produced or extending) forward; -- said of dogs.
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2. (Bot.) A tree (Ochroma Lagopus) of the West Indies, having the stamens united somewhat in the form of a hare's foot.
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Coloq. Harefoot clover (Bot.), a species of clover (Trifolium arvense) with soft and silky heads.
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Hare-hearted (-härtĕd), a. Timorous; timid; easily frightened. Ainsworth.
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Harehound (-hound), n. See . A. Chalmers.
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Hareld (hărĕld), n. (Zoöl.) The long-tailed duck. See .
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Harelip (hârlĭp), n. A lip, commonly the upper one, having a fissure of perpendicular division like that of a hare. -- Harelipped (-lĭpt), a.
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Harem (hārĕm; 277), n.[Ar. haram, orig., anything forbidden or sacred, fr. harama to forbid, prohibit.] [Written also haram and hareem.] 1. The apartments or portion of the house allotted to females in Mohammedan families.
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2. The family of wives and concubines belonging to one man, in Mohammedan countries; a seraglio.
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Harengiform (hȧrĕnjĭfôrm), a. [F. hareng herring (LL. harengus) + -form.] Herring-shaped.
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Hare's-ear (hârzēr), n. (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Bupleurum rotundifolium); -- so named from the shape of its leaves. Dr. Prior.
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Hare's-foot fern (-f�t fẽrn). (Bot.) A species of fern (Davallia Canariensis) with a soft, gray, hairy rootstock; -- whence the name.
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Hare's-tail (-tāl), n. (Bot.) A kind of grass (Eriophorum vaginatum). See Cotton grass, under .
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Coloq. Hare's-tail grass (Bot.), a species of grass (Lagurus ovatus) whose head resembles a hare's tail.
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Harfang (härfăng), n. [See , n., and .] (Zoöl.) The snowy owl.
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Hariali grass (härĭälĭ grȧs). (Bot.) The East Indian name of the Cynodon Dactylon; dog's-grass.
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Haricot (hăr�k�; F. ȧr�k�), n. [F.] 1. A ragout or stew of meat with beans and other vegetables.
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2. The ripe seeds, or the unripe pod, of the common string bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), used as a vegetable. Other species of the same genus furnish different kinds of haricots.
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Harier (hărĭẽr), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Harikari (härĭkärĭ), n. See .
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Hariolation (hărĭ�lāshŭn), n. [See .] Prognostication; soothsaying. [Obs.] Cockeram.
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Harish (hârĭsh), a. Like a hare. [R.] Huloet.
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Hark (härk), v. i. [OE. herken. See .] To listen; to hearken. [Now rare, except in the imperative form used as an interjection, Hark! listen.] Hudibras.
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Coloq. Hark away! Coloq. Hark back! Coloq. Hark forward! (Sporting), cries used to incite and guide hounds in hunting. -- Coloq. To hark back , to go back for a fresh start, as when one has wandered from his direct course, or made a digression.
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He must have overshot the mark, and must hark back. Haggard.
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He harked back to the subject. W. E. Norris.
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Harken (härk'n), v. t. & i. To hearken. Tennyson.
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Harl (härl), n. [Cf. OHG. harluf noose, rope; E. hards refuse of flax.] 1. A filamentous substance; especially, the filaments of flax or hemp.
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2. A barb, or barbs, of a fine large feather, as of a peacock or ostrich, -- used in dressing artificial flies. [Written also herl.]
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Harle (härl), n. (Zoöl.) The red-breasted merganser.
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Harlech group (härlĕk gr�p). [So called from Harlech in Wales.] (Geol.) A minor subdivision at the base of the Cambrian system in Wales.
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Harlequin (härl�kĭn or -kwĭn), n. [F. arlequin, formerly written also harlequin (cf. It, arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf, which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell. Cf. , .] A buffoon, dressed in party-colored clothes, who plays tricks, often without speaking, to divert the bystanders or an audience; a merry-andrew; originally, a droll rogue of Italian comedy. Percy Smith.
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As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters. Johnson.
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Coloq. Harlequin bat (Zoöl.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus ornatus), curiously variegated with white spots. -- Coloq. Harlequin beetle (Zoöl.), a very large South American beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and antennæ. The elytra are curiously marked with red, black, and gray. -- Coloq. Harlequin cabbage bug . (Zoöl.) See . -- Coloq. Harlequin caterpillar . (Zoöl.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (Euchætes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair. -- Coloq. Harlequin duck (Zoöl.), a North American duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). The male is dark ash, curiously streaked with white. -- Coloq. Harlequin moth . (Zoöl.) See . -- Coloq. Harlequin opal . See . -- Coloq. Harlequin snake (Zoöl.), See in the vocabulary.
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Harlequin (härl�kĭn or -kwĭn), v. i. To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
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Harlequin, v. t. To remove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick.
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And kitten, if the humor hit
Has harlequined away the fit. M. Green.
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Harlequinade (-ād), n. [F. arleguinade.] A play or part of a play in which the harlequin is conspicuous; the part of a harlequin. Macaulay.
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harlequin snake n. any of several venomous New World snakes brilliantly banded in red and black and either yellow or white, especially the eastern coral snake, a small poisonous snake (Micrurus fulvius or Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southeastern United States. They are widely distributed in Southern and Central America;
Syn. -- coral snake, New World coral snake.
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Harlock (härlŏk), n. Probably a corruption either of charlock or hardock. Drayton.
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Harlot (-lŏt), n. [OE. harlot, herlot, a vagabond, OF. harlot, herlot, arlot; cf. Pr. arlot, Sp. arlote, It. arlotto; of uncertain origin.] 1. A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth. [Obs.]
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He was a gentle harlot and a kind. Chaucer.
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2. A person given to low conduct; a rogue; a cheat; a rascal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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3. A woman who prostitutes her body for hire; a prostitute; a common woman; a strumpet.
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Harlot, a. Wanton; lewd; low; base. Shak.
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Harlot, v. i. To play the harlot; to practice lewdness. Milton.
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Harlotize (-īz), v. i. To harlot. [Obs.] Warner.
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Harlotry (-r�), n. 1. Ribaldry; buffoonery; a ribald story. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Chaucer.
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2. The trade or practice of prostitution; habitual or customary lewdness. Dryden.
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3. Anything meretricious; as, harlotry in art.
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4. A harlot; a strumpet; a baggage. [Obs.]
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He sups to-night with a harlotry. Shak.
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Harm (härm), n. [OE. harm, hearm, AS. hearm; akin to OS. harm, G. harm grief, Icel. harmr, Dan. harme, Sw. harm; cf. OSlav. & Russ. sram' shame, Skr. çrama toil, fatigue.] 1. Injury; hurt; damage; detriment; misfortune.
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2. That which causes injury, damage, or loss.
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We, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms. Shak.

Syn. -- Mischief; evil; loss; injury. See .
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Harm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harmed (härmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Harming.] [OE. harmen, AS. hearmian. See , n.] To hurt; to injure; to damage; to wrong.
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Though yet he never harmed me. Shak.
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No ground of enmity between us known
Why he should mean me ill or seek to harm. Milton.
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Harmaline (härmȧlĭn or -lēn), n. [Cf. F. harmaline See .] (Chem.) An alkaloid found in the plant Peganum harmala. It forms bitter, yellow salts.
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Harmattan (härmătt�n), n. [F. harmattan, prob. of Arabic origin.] A dry, hot wind, prevailing on the Atlantic coast of Africa, in December, January, and February, blowing from the interior or Sahara. It is usually accompanied by a haze which obscures the sun.
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Harmel (härmĕl), n. [Ar. harmal.] (Bot.) A kind of rue (Ruta sylvestris) growing in India. At Lahore the seeds are used medicinally and for fumigation.
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Harmful (härmfụl), a. Full of harm; injurious; hurtful; mischievous. “ Most harmful hazards.” Strype.

--Harmfully, adv. -- Harmfulness, n.
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Harmine (härmĭn or -mēn), n.[See .] (Chem.) An alkaloid accompanying harmaline (in the Peganum harmala), and obtained from it by oxidation. It is a white crystalline substance.
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Harmless (härmlĕs), a. 1. Free from harm; unhurt; as, to give bond to save another harmless.
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2. Free from power or disposition to harm; innocent; inoffensive. “ The harmless deer.” Drayton

Syn. -- Innocent; innoxious; innocuous; inoffensive; unoffending; unhurt; uninjured; unharmed.

--Harmlessly, adv.- Harmlessness, n.

Harmonic (härmŏnĭk), Harmonical (-ĭk�l), a. [L. harmonicus, Gr. armonikos; cf. F. harmonique. See .] 1. Concordant; musical; consonant; as, harmonic sounds.
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Harmonic twang! of leather, horn, and brass. Pope.
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2. (Mus.) Relating to harmony, -- as melodic relates to melody; harmonious; esp., relating to the accessory sounds or overtones which accompany the predominant and apparent single tone of any string or sonorous body.
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3. (Math.) Having relations or properties bearing some resemblance to those of musical consonances; -- said of certain numbers, ratios, proportions, points, lines, motions, and the like.
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Coloq. Harmonic interval (Mus.), the distance between two notes of a chord, or two consonant notes. -- Coloq. Harmonical mean (Arith. & Alg.), certain relations of numbers and quantities, which bear an analogy to musical consonances. -- Coloq. Harmonic motion , the motion of the point A, of the foot of the perpendicular PA, when P moves uniformly in the circumference of a circle, and PA is drawn perpendicularly upon a fixed diameter of the circle. This is simple harmonic motion. The combinations, in any way, of two or more simple harmonic motions, make other kinds of harmonic motion. The motion of the pendulum bob of a clock is approximately simple harmonic motion. -- Coloq. Harmonic proportion . See under . -- Coloq. Harmonic series or Coloq. Harmonic progression . See under . -- Coloq. Spherical harmonic analysis , a mathematical method, sometimes referred to as that of Laplace's Coefficients, which has for its object the expression of an arbitrary, periodic function of two independent variables, in the proper form for a large class of physical problems, involving arbitrary data, over a spherical surface, and the deduction of solutions for every point of space. The functions employed in this method are called spherical harmonic functions. Thomson & Tait. -- Coloq. Harmonic suture (Anat.), an articulation by simple apposition of comparatively smooth surfaces or edges, as between the two superior maxillary bones in man; -- called also harmonia, and harmony. -- Coloq. Harmonic triad (Mus.), the chord of a note with its third and fifth; the common chord.
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Harmonic (härmŏnĭk), n. (Mus.) A musical note produced by a number of vibrations which is a multiple of the number producing some other; an overtone. See .
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Harmonica (-ĭkȧ), n. [Fem. fr. L. harmonicus harmonic. See , n. ] 1. A musical instrument, consisting of a series of hemispherical glasses which, by touching the edges with the dampened finger, give forth the tones; it is now called the glass harmonica, to distinguish it from the common harmonica, formerly called the harmonicon.
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2. A toy instrument of strips of glass or metal hung on two tapes, and struck with hammers.
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3. A small wind musical instrument shaped like a flat bar with holes along the thin edges, held in the hand and producing notes from multiple vibrating reeds arranged inside along its length; it was formerly called the harmonicon. See .
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Harmonically (-ĭk�ll�), adv. 1. In an harmonical manner; harmoniously.
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2. In respect to harmony, as distinguished from melody; as, a passage harmonically correct.
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3. (Math.) In harmonical progression.
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Harmonicon (-ĭkŏn), n. A small, flat, wind instrument of music, in which the notes are produced by the vibration of free metallic reeds; it is now called the harmonica.
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Harmonics (-ĭks), n. 1. The doctrine or science of musical sounds.
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2. pl. (Mus.) Secondary and less distinct tones which accompany any principal, and apparently simple, tone, as the octave, the twelfth, the fifteenth, and the seventeenth. The name is also applied to the artificial tones produced by a string or column of air, when the impulse given to it suffices only to make a part of the string or column vibrate; overtones.
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Harmonious (härmōnĭŭs), a. [Cf. F. harmonieux. See .] 1. Adapted to each other; having parts proportioned to each other; symmetrical.
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God hath made the intellectual world harmonious and beautiful without us. Locke.
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2. Acting together to a common end; agreeing in action or feeling; living in peace and friendship; as, an harmonious family.
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3. Vocally or musically concordant; agreeably consonant; symphonious.

-- Harmoniously, adv. -- Harmoniousness, n.
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Harmoniphon (härmŏnĭfŏn), n. [Gr. armonia harmony + fwnh sound.] (Mus.) An obsolete wind instrument with a keyboard, in which the sound, which resembled the oboe, was produced by the vibration of thin metallic plates, acted upon by blowing through a tube.
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Harmonist (härm�nĭst), n. [Cf. F. harmoniste.] 1. One who shows the agreement or harmony of corresponding passages of different authors, as of the four evangelists.
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2. (Mus.) One who understands the principles of harmony or is skillful in applying them in composition; a musical composer.

{ Harmonist, Harmonite (-nīt), } n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a religious sect, founded in Würtemburg in the last century, composed of followers of George Rapp, a weaver. They had all their property in common. In 1803, a portion of this sect settled in Pennsylvania and called the village thus established, Harmony.
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Harmonium (härmōnĭŭm), n. [NL. See . ] A musical instrument, resembling a small organ and especially designed for church music, in which the tones are produced by forcing air by means of a bellows so as to cause the vibration of free metallic reeds. It is now made with one or two keyboards, and has pedals and stops.
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harmonizable adj. capable of being made harmonious or consistent.
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Harmonization (härm�nĭzāshŭn), n. The act of harmonizing.
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Harmonize (härm�nīz), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Harmonized (-nīzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Harmonizing (-nīzĭng).] [Cf. F. harmoniser. ] 1. To agree in action, adaptation, or effect on the mind; to agree in sense or purport; as, the parts of a mechanism harmonize.
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2. To be in peace and friendship, as individuals, families, or public organizations.
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3. To agree in vocal or musical effect; to form a concord; as, the tones harmonize perfectly.
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Harmonize, v. t. 1. To adjust in fit proportions; to cause to agree; to show the agreement of; to reconcile the apparent contradiction of.
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2. (Mus.) To accompany with harmony; to provide with parts, as an air, or melody.
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Harmonizer (-nīzẽr), n. One who harmonizes.
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Harmonometer (-nŏm�tẽr), n. [Gr. armonia harmony + meter: cf. F. harmonometre.] An instrument for measuring the harmonic relations of sounds. It is often a monochord furnished with movable bridges.
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Harmony (härm�n�), n.; pl. Harmonies (-nĭz). [F. harmonie, L. harmonia, Gr. armonia joint, proportion, concord, fr. armos a fitting or joining. See .] 1. The just adaptation of parts to each other, in any system or combination of things, or in things intended to form a connected whole; such an agreement between the different parts of a design or composition as to produce unity of effect; as, the harmony of the universe.
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2. Concord or agreement in facts, opinions, manners, interests, etc.; good correspondence; peace and friendship; as, good citizens live in harmony.
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3. A literary work which brings together or arranges systematically parallel passages of historians respecting the same events, and shows their agreement or consistency; as, a harmony of the Gospels.
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4. (Mus.) (a) A succession of chords according to the rules of progression and modulation. (b) The science which treats of their construction and progression.
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Ten thousand harps, that tuned
Angelic harmonies. Milton.
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5. (Anat.) See Harmonic suture, under .
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Coloq. Close harmony , Coloq. Dispersed harmony , etc. See under , , etc. -- Coloq. Harmony of the spheres . See Music of the spheres, under .

Syn. -- , . Harmony results from the concord of two or more strains or sounds which differ in pitch and quality. Melody denotes the pleasing alternation and variety of musical and measured sounds, as they succeed each other in a single verse or strain.
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