hero
hero definition
hero (hir′ō, hē′rō′)
noun pl. heroes -·roes
- Myth., Legend a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped after his death
- any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, or exploits, esp. in war
- any person, esp. a man, admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model
- the central male character in a novel, play, poem, etc., with whom the reader or audience is supposed to sympathize
- the central figure in any important event or period, honored for outstanding qualities
- ☆ hero sandwich
Etymology: L heros < Gr hērōs < IE base *ser-, to watch over, protect > Av haraiti, (he) protects, Lith sárgas, watchman
Hero1 definition
Hero (hir′ō, hē′rō′)
noun
Gr. Legend a priestess of Aphrodite at Sestos: her lover, Leander, swims the Hellespont from Abydos every night to be with her; when he drowns in a storm, Hero throws herself into the sea
Etymology: L < Gr Hērō
Hero2 definition
Hero (hir′ō, hē′rō)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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