from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Heart \Heart\ (h[aum]rt), n. [OE. harte, herte, heorte, AS.
heorte; akin to OS. herta, OFies. hirte, D. hart, OHG. herza,
G. herz, Icel. hjarta, Sw. hjerta, Goth. ha['i]rt[=o], Lith.
szirdis, Russ. serdtse, Ir. cridhe, L. cor, Gr. kardi`a,
kh^r. [root]277. Cf. {Accord}, {Discord}, {Cordial}, 4th
{Core}, {Courage}.]
1. (Anat.) A hollow, muscular organ, which, by contracting
rhythmically, keeps up the circulation of the blood.
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Why does my blood thus muster to my heart! --Shak.
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Note: In adult mammals and birds, the heart is
four-chambered, the right auricle and ventricle being
completely separated from the left auricle and
ventricle; and the blood flows from the systemic veins
to the right auricle, thence to the right ventricle,
from which it is forced to the lungs, then returned to
the left auricle, thence passes to the left ventricle,
from which it is driven into the systemic arteries. See
Illust. under {Aorta}. In fishes there are but one
auricle and one ventricle, the blood being pumped from
the ventricle through the gills to the system, and
thence returned to the auricle. In most amphibians and
reptiles, the separation of the auricles is partial or
complete, and in reptiles the ventricles also are
separated more or less completely. The so-called lymph
hearts, found in many amphibians, reptiles, and birds,
are contractile sacs, which pump the lymph into the
veins.
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2. The seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively
or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, and the
like; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; --
usually in a good sense, when no epithet is expressed; the
better or lovelier part of our nature; the spring of all
our actions and purposes; the seat of moral life and
character; the moral affections and character itself; the
individual disposition and character; as, a good, tender,
loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart.
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Hearts are dust, hearts' loves remain. --Emerson.
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3. The nearest the middle or center; the part most hidden and
within; the inmost or most essential part of any body or
system; the source of life and motion in any organization;
the chief or vital portion; the center of activity, or of
energetic or efficient action; as, the heart of a country,
of a tree, etc.
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Exploits done in the heart of France. --Shak.
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Peace subsisting at the heart
Of endless agitation. --Wordsworth.
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4. Courage; courageous purpose; spirit.
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Eve, recovering heart, replied. --Milton.
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The expelled nations take heart, and when they fly
from one country invade another. --Sir W.
Temple.
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5. Vigorous and efficient activity; power of fertile
production; condition of the soil, whether good or bad.
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That the spent earth may gather heart again.
--Dryden.
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6. That which resembles a heart in shape; especially, a
roundish or oval figure or object having an obtuse point
at one end, and at the other a corresponding indentation,
-- used as a symbol or representative of the heart.
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7. One of the suits of playing cards, distinguished by the
figure or figures of a heart; as, hearts are trumps.
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8. Vital part; secret meaning; real intention.
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And then show you the heart of my message. --Shak.
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9. A term of affectionate or kindly and familiar address. "I
speak to thee, my heart." --Shak.
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Note: Heart is used in many compounds, the most of which need
no special explanation; as, heart-appalling,
heart-breaking, heart-cheering, heart-chilled,
heart-expanding, heart-free, heart-hardened,
heart-heavy, heart-purifying, heart-searching,
heart-sickening, heart-sinking, heart-sore,
heart-stirring, heart-touching, heart-wearing,
heart-whole, heart-wounding, heart-wringing, etc.
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{After one's own heart}, conforming with one's inmost
approval and desire; as, a friend after my own heart.
The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart.
--1 Sam. xiii.
14.
{At heart}, in the inmost character or disposition; at
bottom; really; as, he is at heart a good man.
{By heart}, in the closest or most thorough manner; as, to
know or learn by heart. "Composing songs, for fools to get
by heart" (that is, to commit to memory, or to learn
thoroughly). --Pope.
{to learn by heart}, to memorize.
{For my heart}, for my life; if my life were at stake. [Obs.]
"I could not get him for my heart to do it." --Shak.
{Heart bond} (Masonry), a bond in which no header stone
stretches across the wall, but two headers meet in the
middle, and their joint is covered by another stone laid
header fashion. --Knight.
{Heart and hand}, with enthusiastic co["o]peration.
{Heart hardness}, hardness of heart; callousness of feeling;
moral insensibility. --Shak.
{Heart heaviness}, depression of spirits. --Shak.
{Heart point} (Her.), the fess point. See {Escutcheon}.
{Heart rising}, a rising of the heart, as in opposition.
{Heart shell} (Zool.), any marine, bivalve shell of the genus
{Cardium} and allied genera, having a heart-shaped shell;
esp., the European {Isocardia cor}; -- called also {heart
cockle}.
{Heart sickness}, extreme depression of spirits.
{Heart and soul}, with the utmost earnestness.
{Heart urchin} (Zool.), any heartshaped, spatangoid sea
urchin. See {Spatangoid}.
{Heart wheel}, a form of cam, shaped like a heart. See {Cam}.
{In good heart}, in good courage; in good hope.
{Out of heart}, discouraged.
{Poor heart}, an exclamation of pity.
{To break the heart of}.
(a) To bring to despair or hopeless grief; to cause to be
utterly cast down by sorrow.
(b) To bring almost to completion; to finish very nearly;
-- said of anything undertaken; as, he has broken the
heart of the task.
{To find in the heart}, to be willing or disposed. "I could
find in my heart to ask your pardon." --Sir P. Sidney.
{To have at heart}, to desire (anything) earnestly.
{To have in the heart}, to purpose; to design or intend to
do.
{To have the heart in the mouth}, to be much frightened.
{To lose heart}, to become discouraged.
{To lose one's heart}, to fall in love.
{To set the heart at rest}, to put one's self at ease.
{To set the heart upon}, to fix the desires on; to long for
earnestly; to be very fond of.
{To take heart of grace}, to take courage.
{To take to heart}, to grieve over.
{To wear one's heart upon one's sleeve}, to expose one's
feelings or intentions; to be frank or impulsive.
{With all one's heart}, {With one's whole heart}, very
earnestly; fully; completely; devotedly.
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