hero

English Online Dictionary. What means hero‎? What does hero mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English heroes, from Old French heroes, from Latin hērōs (“hero”), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (hḗrōs, “demi-god, hero”), from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to watch over, protect”). Related to Latin servo (“protect”). Displaced Middle English heleð, haleð, from Old English hæleþ, hæle.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ/, [ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ~ˈçɪə.ɹəʊ]
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/, /ˈhiɹ.oʊ/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈhɛɹ.oʊ/
• Hyphenation: he‧ro
• Rhymes: -ɪəɹəʊ

Noun

hero (plural heroes or (sandwich sense) heros)

1. Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds.
2. A role model.
3. The protagonist in a work of fiction.
4. (poker) The current player, especially a hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”).

5. (New York) A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses; a hero sandwich.
6. (film, photography, chiefly attributive) The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie.
7. (web design) The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold.

Synonyms

• see Thesaurus:hero
• (sandwich): see sub

Coordinate terms

• heroine (“hero (female)”)

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Hindi: हीरो (hīro)
• → Japanese: ヒーロー (hīrō)
• → Korean: 히어로 (hieoro)
• → Thai: ฮีโร่ (hii-rôo)

Translations

See also

• kamikaze
• martyr
• shaheed

References

Anagrams

• rheo-, Roeh, heor, Rohe, hoer, rohe

German

Adverb

hero

1. (archaic) Alternative form of her

Further reading

• “hero” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.

Luo

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

Verb

hero

1. to love

Middle English

Determiner

hero

1. Alternative form of here (“their”)