Harmost - Hartshorn

Prev Next

Harmost (härmŏst), n. [Gr. armosths, fr. armozein to join, arrange, command: cf. F. harmoste. See .] (Gr. Antiq.) A city governor or prefect appointed by the Spartans in the cities subjugated by them.
[ Webster]

Harmotome (-m�tōm), n. [Gr. armos a joint + temnein to cut: cf. F. harmotome.] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of alumina and baryta, occurring usually in white cruciform crystals; cross-stone.
[ Webster]

☞ A related mineral, called lime harmotome, and Phillipsite, contains lime in place of baryta. Dana.
[ Webster]

Harness (-nĕs), n. [OE. harneis, harnes, OF. harneis, F. harnais, harnois; of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. harnez old iron, armor, W. haiarn iron, Armor. houarn, Ir. iarann, Gael. iarunn. Cf. .] 1. Originally, the complete dress, especially in a military sense, of a man or a horse; hence, in general, armor.
[ Webster]

At least we'll die with harness on our back. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. The equipment of a draught or carriage horse, for drawing a wagon, coach, chaise, etc.; gear; tackling.
[ Webster]

3. The part of a loom comprising the heddles, with their means of support and motion, by which the threads of the warp are alternately raised and depressed for the passage of the shuttle.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To die in harness , to die with armor on; hence, colloquially, to die while actively engaged in work or duty.
[ Webster]

Harness, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harnessed (-nĕst); p. pr. & vb. n. Harnessing.] [OE. harneisen; cf. F. harnacher, OF. harneschier.] 1. To dress in armor; to equip with armor for war, as a horseman; to array.
[ Webster]

Harnessed in rugged steel. Rowe.
[ Webster]

A gay dagger,
Harnessed well and sharp as point of spear.
Chaucer.
[ Webster]

2. Fig.: To equip or furnish for defense. Dr. H. More.
[ Webster]

3. To make ready for draught; to equip with harness, as a horse. Also used figuratively.
[ Webster]

Harnessed to some regular profession. J. C. Shairp.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Harnessed antelope . (Zoöl.) See . -- Coloq. Harnessed moth (Zoöl.), an American bombycid moth (Arctia phalerata of Harris), having, on the fore wings, stripes and bands of buff on a black ground.
[ Webster]

Harness cask (kȧsk). (Naut.) A tub lashed to a vessel's deck and containing salted provisions for daily use; -- called also harness tub. W. C. Russell.
[ Webster]

Harnesser (-ẽr), n. One who harnesses.
[ Webster]

Harns (härnz), n. pl. [Akin to Icel. hjarni, Dan. hierne.] The brains. [Scot.]
[ Webster]

Harp (härp), n. [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G. harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.] 1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers.
[ Webster]

2. (Astron.) A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.
[ Webster]

3. A grain sieve. [Scot.]
[ Webster]

Coloq. Æolian harp . See under .
[ Webster]

Coloq. Harp seal (Zoöl.), an arctic seal (Phoca Grœnlandica). The adult males have a light-colored body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and the face and throat black. Called also saddler, and saddleback. The immature ones are called bluesides; their fur is white, and they are killed and skinned to harvest the fur. -- Coloq. Harp shell (Zoöl.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in tropical seas. See .
[ Webster]

Harp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Harped (härpt) p. pr. & vb. n. Harping.] [AS. hearpian. See , n.] 1. To play on the harp.
[ Webster]

I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. Rev. xiv. 2.
[ Webster]

2. To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or upon.Harpings upon old themes.” W. Irving.
[ Webster]

Harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was.
Shak.
[ Webster]

Coloq. To harp on one string , to dwell upon one subject with disagreeable or wearisome persistence. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Harp, v. t. To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound forth as from a harp; to hit upon.
[ Webster]

Thou 'st harped my fear aright. Shak.
[ Webster]

Harpa (härpȧ), n. [L., harp.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine univalve shells; the harp shells; -- so called from the form of the shells, and their ornamental ribs.
[ Webster]

Harpagon (-gŏn), n. [L. harpago, Gr. arpagh hook, rake.] A grappling iron. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Harper (härpẽr), n. [AS. hearpere.] 1. A player on the harp; a minstrel.
[ Webster]

The murmuring pines and the hemlocks . . .
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.
Longfellow.
[ Webster]

2. A brass coin bearing the emblem of a harp, -- formerly current in Ireland. B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

Harping (härpĭng), a. Pertaining to the harp; as, harping symphonies. Milton.
[ Webster]

Harping iron (īŭrn). [F. harper to grasp strongly. See .] A harpoon. Evelyn.
[ Webster]

Harpings (-ĭngz), n. pl. (Naut.) The fore parts of the wales, which encompass the bow of a vessel, and are fastened to the stem. [Written also harpins.] Totten.
[ Webster]

Harpist, n. [Cf. F. harpiste.] A player on the harp; a harper. W. Browne.
[ Webster]

Harpoon (härp�n), n. [F. harpon, LL. harpo, perh. of Ger. origin, fr. the harp; cf. F. harper to take and grasp strongly, harpe a dog's claw, harpin boathook (the sense of hook coming from the shape of the harp); but cf. also Gr. arph the kite, sickle, and E. harpy. Cf. .] A spear or javelin used to strike and kill large fish, as whales; a harping iron. It consists of a long shank, with a broad, flat, triangular head, sharpened at both edges, and is thrown by hand, or discharged from a gun.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Harpoon fork , a kind of hayfork, consisting of a bar with hinged barbs at one end and a loop for a rope at the other end, used for lifting hay from the load by horse power. -- Coloq. Harpoon gun , a gun used in the whale fishery for shooting the harpoon into a whale.
[ Webster]

Harpoon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harpooned (-p�nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Harpooning.] To strike, catch, or kill with a harpoon.
[ Webster]

Harpooneer (härp�nēr), n. An harpooner. Crabb.
[ Webster]

Harpooner (härp�nẽr), n. [Cf. F. harponneur.] One who throws the harpoon.
[ Webster]

Harpress (härprĕs), n. A female harper. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

Harpsichon (härpsĭkŏn), n. A harpsichord. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Harpsichord (-kôrd), n. [OF. harpechorde, in which the harpe is of German origin. See , and .] (Mus.) A harp-shaped instrument of music set horizontally on legs, like the grand piano, with strings of wire, played by the fingers, by means of keys provided with quills, instead of hammers, for striking the strings. It is now superseded by the piano.
[ Webster]

harpsichordist n. someone who plays the harpsichord.
[WordNet 1.5]

harpulla n. A fast-growing tree of India and East Indies (Harpullia cupanioides) yielding a wood used especially for building.
Syn. -- Harpullia cupanioides.
[WordNet 1.5]

harpullia n. any of various tree of the genus Harpullia.
[WordNet 1.5]

Harpy (härp�), n.; pl. Harpies (-pĭz). [F. harpie, L. harpyia, Gr. arpyia, from the root of arpazein to snatch, to seize. Cf. .] 1. (Gr. Myth.) A fabulous winged monster, ravenous and filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture, with long claws, and the face pale with hunger. Some writers mention two, others three.
[ Webster]

Both table and provisions vanished quite.
With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard.
Milton.
[ Webster]

2. One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner.
[ Webster]

The harpies about all pocket the pool. Goldsmith.
[ Webster]

3. (Zoöl.) (a) The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier (Circus æruginosus). (b) A large and powerful, double-crested, short-winged American eagle (Thrasaëtus harpyia). It ranges from Texas to Brazil.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Harpy bat (Zoöl.) (a) An East Indian fruit bat of the genus Harpyia (esp. Harpyia cephalotes), having prominent, tubular nostrils. (b) A small, insectivorous Indian bat (Harpiocephalus harpia). -- Coloq. Harpy fly (Zoöl.), the house fly.
[ Webster]

{ Harquebus Harquebuse } (härkw�bŭs), n. [See .] A firearm with match holder, trigger, and tumbler, made in the second half of the 15th century. The barrel was about forty inches long. A form of the harquebus was subsequently called arquebus with matchlock.
[ Webster]

Harrage (hărr�j; 48) v. t. [See .] To harass; to plunder from. [Obs.] Fuller.
[ Webster]

Harre (härr�), n. [OE., fr. AS. heorr, híor.] A hinge. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Harridan (hărrĭd�n), n. [F. haridelle a worn-out horse, jade.] A worn-out strumpet; a vixenish woman; a hag.
[ Webster]

Such a weak, watery, wicked old harridan, substituted for the pretty creature I had been used to see. De Quincey.
[ Webster]

harried adj. same as .
Syn. -- annoyed, harassed, pestered.
[WordNet 1.5]

Harrier (-ẽr), n. [From , n.] (Zoöl.) One of a small breed of hounds, used for hunting hares. [Written also harier.]
[ Webster]

Harrier, n. [From .] 1. One who harries.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) One of several species of hawks or buzzards of the genus Circus which fly low and harry small animals or birds, -- as the European marsh harrier (Circus æruginosus), and the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus).
[ Webster]

Coloq. Harrier hawk (Zoöl.), one of several species of American hawks of the genus Micrastur.
[ Webster]

Harrisia prop. n. (Bot.) A genus of slender often treelike spiny cacti with solitary showy nocturnal white or pink flowers; Florida and Caribbean to South America.
Syn. -- genus Harrisia.
[WordNet 1.5]

Harrow (hărr�), n. [OE. harowe, harwe, AS. hearge; cf. D. hark rake, G. harke, Icel. herfi harrow, Dan. harve, Sw. harf. √16.] 1. An implement of agriculture, usually formed of pieces of timber or metal crossing each other, and set with iron or wooden teeth. It is drawn over plowed land to level it and break the clods, to stir the soil and make it fine, or to cover seed when sown.
[ Webster]

2. (Mil.) An obstacle formed by turning an ordinary harrow upside down, the frame being buried.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Bush harrow , a kind of light harrow made of bushes, for harrowing grass lands and covering seeds, or to finish the work of a toothed harrow. -- Coloq. Drill harrow . See under 6th . -- Coloq. Under the harrow , subjected to actual torture with a toothed instrument, or to great affliction or oppression.
[ Webster]

Harrow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harrowed (hărr�d); p. pr. & vb. n. Harrowing.] [OE. harowen, harwen; cf. Dan. harve. See , n.] 1. To draw a harrow over, as for the purpose of breaking clods and leveling the surface, or for covering seed; as, to harrow land.
[ Webster]

Will he harrow the valleys after thee? Job xxxix. 10.
[ Webster]

2. To break or tear, as with a harrow; to wound; to lacerate; to torment or distress; to vex.
[ Webster]

My aged muscles harrowed up with whips. Rowe.
[ Webster]

I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul.
Shak.
[ Webster]

Harrow, interj. [OF. harau, haro; fr. OHG. hara, hera, herot, or fr. OS. herod hither, akin to E. here.] Help! Halloo! An exclamation of distress; a call for succor; -- the ancient Norman hue and cry.Harrow and well away!” Spenser.
[ Webster]

Harrow! alas! here lies my fellow slain. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Harrow, v. t. [See .] To pillage; to harry; to oppress. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Meaning thereby to harrow his people. Bacon
[ Webster]

Harrower (hărr�ẽr), n. One who harrows.
[ Webster]

Harrower, n. One who harries. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Harry (-r�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harried (-rĭd); p. pr. & vb. n. Harrying.] [OE. harwen, herien, herȝien, AS. hergian to act as an army, to ravage, plunder, fr. here army; akin to G. heer, Icel. herr, Goth. harjis, and Lith. karas war. Cf. , , .]
[ Webster]

1. To strip; to pillage; to lay waste; as, the Northmen came several times and harried the land.
[ Webster]

To harry this beautiful region. W. Irving.
[ Webster]

A red squirrel had harried the nest of a wood thrush. J. Burroughs.
[ Webster]

2. To agitate; to worry; to harrow; to harass. Shak.

Syn. -- To ravage; plunder; pillage; lay waste; vex; tease; worry; annoy; harass.
[ Webster]

Harry, v. i. To make a predatory incursion; to plunder or lay waste. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

Harsh (härsh), a. [Compar. Harsher (härshẽr); superl. Harshest.] [OE. harsk; akin to G. harsch, Dan. harsk rancid, Sw. härsk; from the same source as E. hard. See , a.] 1. Rough; disagreeable; grating; esp.: (a) disagreeable to the touch.Harsh sand.” Boyle. (b) disagreeable to the taste. “Berries harsh and crude.” Milton. (c) disagreeable to the ear.Harsh din.” Milton.
[ Webster]

2. Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere; crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.
[ Webster]

Clarence is so harsh, so blunt. Shak.
[ Webster]

Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charmed. Dryden.
[ Webster]

3. (Painting, Drawing, etc.) Having violent contrasts of color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.
[ Webster]

Harshly, adv. In a harsh manner; gratingly; roughly; rudely.
[ Webster]

'T will sound harshly in her ears. Shak.
[ Webster]

Harshness, n. The quality or state of being harsh.
[ Webster]

O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
And he's composed of harshness.
Shak.
[ Webster]

'Tis not enough no harshness gives offense,
The sound must seem an echo to the sense.
Pope.

Syn. -- Acrimony; roughness; sternness; asperity; tartness. See .
[ Webster]

Harslet (härslĕt), n. See .
[ Webster]

Hart (härt), n. [OE. hart, hert, heort, AS. heort, heorot; akin to D. hert, OHG. hiruz, hirz, G. hirsch, Icel. hjörtr, Dan. & Sw. hjort, L. cervus, and prob. to Gr. keraos horned, keras horn. √230. See .] (Zoöl.) A stag; the male of the red deer. See the Note under .
[ Webster]

Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind. Milton.
[ Webster]

hartebeest n. 1. large African antelope with lyre-shaped horns that curve backward.
[WordNet 1.5]

Hartbeest, Hartebeest (-bēst), n. [D. hertebeest. See , and .] 1. (Zoöl.) A large South African antelope (Alcelaphus caama), formerly much more abundant than it is now. The face and legs are marked with black, the rump with white. [Written also hartebeest, and hartebest.]
[ Webster]

2. Any anteleope of the genus Alcelaphus and certain species of Darnaliscus.
[PJC]

Harten (-'n), v. t. To hearten; to encourage; to incite. [Obs.] Spenser.
[ Webster]

Hartford (härtfẽrd), n. The Hartford grape, a variety of grape first raised at Hartford, Connecticut, from the Northern fox grape. Its large dark-colored berries ripen earlier than those of most other kinds.
[ Webster]

Hart's clover (härts klōvẽr). (Bot.) Melilot or sweet clover. See .
[ Webster]

Hart's-ear (-ēr), n. (Bot.) An Asiatic species of Cacalia (Cacalia Kleinia), used medicinally in India.
[ Webster]

Hartshorn (-hôrn), n. 1. The horn or antler of the hart, or male red deer.
[ Webster]

2. Spirits of hartshorn (see below); volatile salts.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Hartshorn plantain (Bot.), an annual species of plantain (Plantago Coronopus); -- called also buck's-horn. Booth. -- Coloq. Hartshorn shavings , originally taken from the horns of harts, are now obtained chiefly by planing down the bones of calves. They afford a kind of jelly. Hebert. -- Coloq. Salt of hartshorn (Chem.), an impure solid carbonate of ammonia, obtained by the destructive distillation of hartshorn, or any kind of bone; volatile salts. Brande & C.-- Coloq. Spirits of hartshorn (Chem.), a solution of ammonia in water; -- so called because formerly obtained from hartshorn shavings by destructive distillation. Similar ammoniacal solutions from other sources have received the same name.
[ 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