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hale

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The definition of hale is healthy or free from disease.

(adjective)

An example of hale used as an adjective is the phrase "he looks hearty and hale," which means a person who looks healthy.

To hale is defined as to force or push to go.

(verb)

An example of to hale is to signal a horse to begin pulling a carriage.

See hale in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective haler, halest

sound in body; vigorous and healthy: now said esp. of older persons

Origin: northern ME hal, same as Midland hool (see whole) < OE hal, sound, healthy

transitive verb haled, haling

Archaic to pull forcibly; drag; haul
to force (a person) to go: haled him into court

Origin: ME halen, halien < OFr haler, prob. < ODu halen: see haul

Hale, Edward Everett 1822-1909; U.S. clergyman & writer
Hale, George Ellery 1868-1938; U.S. astronomer
Hale, Nathan 1755-76; Am. soldier in the Revolutionary War: hanged by the British as a spy

See hale in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective hal·er, hal·est

Free from infirmity or illness; sound. See Synonyms at healthy.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English hāl; see kailo- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

haleˈness noun

transitive verb haled haled, hal·ing, hales

To compel to go: “In short order the human rights campaign was haled before a high court of indignation” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)
Archaic To pull, draw, drag, or hoist.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English halen, to pull, drag

Origin: , from Old French haler

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see kelə-² in Indo-European roots

American Unitarian cleric and writer whose more than 150 literary works include the story “The Man Without a Country” (1863). His sister Lucretia Peabody Hale (1820-1900) wrote two noted children's books, The Peterkin Papers (1880) and The Last of the Peterkins (1886).

, George Ellery 1868-1938.

American astrophysicist who invented the spectroheliograph (1891) and directed the Mount Wilson Observatory (1904-1923).

, Nathan 1755-1776.

American Revolutionary soldier hanged by the British as a spy. According to tradition, his last words were “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

, Sarah Josepha Buell 1788-1879.

American writer and editor of Godey's Lady's Book (1837-1877), the most popular American women's magazine of its time. Her own works include the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb” (1830).

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