from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Half \Half\ (h[aum]f), a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun,
half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb,
Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. h[=a]lfr, Goth. halbs. Cf.
{Halve}, {Behalf}.]
1. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half
hour; a half dollar; a half view.
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Note: The adjective and noun are often united to form a
compound.
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2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half;
approximately a half, whether more or less; partial;
imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge.
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Assumed from thence a half consent. --Tennyson.
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{Half ape} (Zool.), a lemur.
{Half back}. (Football) See under 2d {Back}.
{Half bent}, the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in
the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch.
{Half binding}, a style of bookbinding in which only the back
and corners are in leather.
{Half boarder}, one who boards in part; specifically, a
scholar at a boarding school who takes dinner only.
{Half-breadth plan} (Shipbuilding), a horizontal plan of one
half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.
{Half cadence} (Mus.), a cadence on the dominant.
{Half cap}, a slight salute with the cap. [Obs.] --Shak.
{At half cock}, the position of the cock of a gun when
retained by the first notch.
{Half hitch}, a sailor's knot in a rope; half of a clove
hitch.
{Half hose}, short stockings; socks.
{Half measure}, an imperfect or weak line of action.
{Half note} (Mus.), a minim, one half of a semibreve.
{Half pay}, half of the wages or salary; reduced pay; as, an
officer on half pay.
{Half price}, half the ordinary price; or a price much
reduced.
{Half round}.
(a) (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section.
(b) (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; --
said of a file.
{Half shift} (Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open
position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and
kindred instruments. See {Shift}.
{Half step} (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of
pitch or interval, used in music.
{Half tide}, the time or state of the tide equally distant
from ebb and flood.
{Half time}, half the ordinary time for work or attendance;
as, the half-time system.
{Half tint} (Fine Arts), a middle or intermediate tint, as in
drawing or painting. See {Demitint}.
{Half truth}, a statement only partially true, or which gives
only a part of the truth. --Mrs. Browning.
{Half year}, the space of six months; one term of a school
when there are two terms in a year.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), n. [AS. b[ae]c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., &
LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn,
OSlav. b[=e]g[u^] flight. Cf. {Bacon}.]
1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending
from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals,
that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to
such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish,
or lobster.
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2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
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[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
Into the clouds. --Milton.
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3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the
inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of
the foot, the back of a hand rail.
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Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss.
--Donne.
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4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of
a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the
back of a chimney.
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5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which
fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or
not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill,
or of a village.
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6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its
edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
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7. A support or resource in reserve.
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This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof. --Shak.
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8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
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9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a
horizontal underground passage.
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10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.]
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A bak to walken inne by daylight. --Chaucer.
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{Behind one's back}, when one is absent; without one's
knowledge; as, to ridicule a person behind his back.
{Full back}, {Half back}, {Quarter back} (Football), players
stationed behind those in the front line.
{To be on one's back} or {To lie on one's back}, to be
helpless.
{To put one's back up} or {to get one's back up}, to assume
an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a
cat when attacked). [Colloq.]
{To see the back of}, to get rid of.
{To turn the back}, to go away; to flee.
{To turn the back on one}, to forsake or neglect him.
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