heart

plural hearts · alternative obsolete hart · alternative obsolete hearte

1. countableuncountableanatomyA muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally thought to be the seat of emotion.

   […] I did almoſt beleeve, that the motion of the Heart vvas knovvn to God alone: […]

   1653, William Harvey, “The Causes which Mov’d the Author to Write”, in [anonymous], transl., The Anatomical Exercises of Dr. William Harvey […] Concerning the Motion of the Heart and Blood. […], London: […] Francis Leach, for Richard Lownes […], →OCLC, page 1

2. uncountableOne's feelings and emotions, especially considered as part of one's character.

   She has a cold heart.

   3 more examples

   In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.

   1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266

   Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

   1943, Katherine Woods, transl., The Little Prince, translation of original by Antoine de Saint Exupéry

   "Do what the heart commands," Tothero says. "The heart is our only guide."

   1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 47

3. countableuncountableThe seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, etc.; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; usually in a good sense; personality.

   Her heart was singing.

   1 more example

   a good, tender, loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart

4. countableuncountableCompassion.

   If she had any heart she'd forgive me.

5. countableuncountableAffection

   The chorus's singing won the hearts of the audience.

   2 more examples

   Upon his browes was pourtraid vgly death, / And in his eies the furies of his heart, / That ſhine as Comets, menacing reueng, / And caſts a pale complexion on his cheeks.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii

   Calm and deep peace in this wide air, ⁠These leaves that redden to the fall; ⁠And in my heart, if calm at all, If any calm, a calm despair: […]

   1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

6. countableuncountableDisposition

   They didn't take the remarks in good heart.

7. countableuncountableEmotional strength that allows one to continue in difficult situations; courage; spirit; a will to compete.

   The team lost, but they showed a lot of heart.

   5 more examples

   She put her whole heart into making a go of the business.

   Eve, recovering heart, replied.

   1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   The expelled nations take heart, and when they fled from one country, invaded another.

   c. 1679, William Temple, Essay

   "We provided a lot of brains and a lot of heart to the response when it was needed," says Sandra Sanchez, director of AFSC's Immigrants' Voice Program in Des Moines.

   2008, "Rights trampled in rush to deport immigrant workers," Quaker Action (magazine), vol. 89, no. 3, page 8

   The result still leaves Wales bottom of the group but in better heart for Tuesday night's trip to face England at Wembley, who are now outright leaders after their 3-0 win in Bulgaria.

   2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegrof”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)

   Synonyms: bravery, nerve, spirit, audacity, balls, bield, boldhead, boldness

8. countableuncountableVigorous and efficient activity; power of fertile production; condition of the soil, whether good or bad.

   Both theſe unhappy Soils the Swain forbears, / And keeps a Sabbath of alternate Years: / That the ſpent Earth may gather heart again; / And, better'd by Ceſſation, bear the Grain.

   1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 52, lines 106–109

9. archaiccountableuncountableA term of affectionate or kindly and familiar address.

   Listen, dear heart, we must go now.

   3 more examples

   My King, my Jove, I speak to thee, my heart!

   c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]

   Awake, dear heart, awake. Thou hast slept well./Awake.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   Certain unscrupulous men may call upon you here in your dressing-room. They will lavish you with flowers, with compliments, with phials of Hungary water and methuselahs of the costliest champagne. You must be wary of such men, my hearts, they are not to be trusted.

   1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, pages 9–10

   Synonyms: honey, sugar, babber, babe, precious, bae, baby, babycakes

10. countableobsoleteuncountableexcept in the phrase "by heart"Memory.

    I know almost every Beatles song by heart.

11. countablefigurativelyuncountableA wight or being.

    […] I would outstare the sternest eyes that look, / Outbrave the heart most daring on earth, / Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, / Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,[…]

    c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

12. countableuncountableA conventional shape or symbol used to represent the heart, love, or emotion: ♥.

    "Aw. Thank you." The Cherub kissed the air between them and sent a small cluster of tiny red hearts at her.

    1998, Pat Cadigan, Tea From an Empty Cup, page 106

13. countableuncountablecard gamesA playing card of the suit hearts featuring one or more heart-shaped symbols.
14. countableuncountablecartomancyThe twenty-fourth Lenormand card.
15. countablefigurativelyuncountableThe centre, essence, or core.

    That is the heart of the matter

    5 more examples

    The wood at the heart of a tree is the oldest.

    Buddhists believe that suffering is right at the heart of all life.

    At last she spoke in a low voice, hesitating slightly, nevertheless going with incisive directness into the very heart of the problem.

    1899, Robert Barr, chapter 3, in The Strong Arm

    The narrow streets that twist and turn through the compact heart of Dent are surfaced with cobbles which, in the absence of pavements, spread right across from doorstep to doorstep.

    1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 150

    The heart of the modern city is T’ien-an-men Square, one of the largest — if not the largest — square in the world, created expressly in the Fifties on the ashes of the old “Tartar city,” an agglomeration of small and unassuming low grey houses, inhabited by the populace that was once excluded from the “Forbidden City.”

    1995, Alberto Zola, “Introduction”, in China, Tiger Books International, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 23

    Synonyms: crux, gist, bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, crux, essence

    1. countablefigurativelyuncountablechemistryThe main fraction or product of a distillation run.

       Synonyms: crux, gist, bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, crux, essence

present singular third person hearts · participle present hearting · participle past hearted · past hearted · alternative obsolete hart · alternative obsolete hearte

1. humorousinformaltransitiveTo be fond of. Often bracketed or abbreviated with a heart symbol.First known use late 20th c.

   2008 July 25, "The Media Hearts Obama?", On The Media, National Public Radio

   4 more examples

   We're but the sum of all our terrors until we heart the dove.

   2001 April 6, Michael Baldwin, “The Heart Has Its Reasons”, in Commonweal

   2006, Susan Reinhardt, Bulldog doesn't have to rely on the kindness of strangers to draw attention, Citizen-Times.com I guess at this point we were supposed to feel elated she'd come to her senses and decided she hearts dogs after all.

   The further we delve into this "story", the more convinced we become of one thing: We heart the Goss.

   2008 January 30, “Cheese in our time: Blur and Oasis to end feud with a Stilton”, in The Guardian, London

   Lots of people say they love their hometown, but no one hearts NY quite like Milton Glaser.

   2019 July 4, John Leland, “Why This Famous Graphic Designer, at 90, Still ♥s NY”, in New York Times

   Synonyms: love, less than three

2. transitiveTo mark a comment, post, reply, etc., with the heart symbol (❤).

   She hearted my photos of the kids playing with the dogs.

   Synonyms: love

3. obsoletetransitiveTo give heart to; to hearten; to encourage.

   […]My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

4. transitivebusinessTo fill an interior with rubble, as a wall or a breakwater.
5. intransitiveagricultureTo form a dense cluster of leaves, a heart, especially of lettuce or cabbage.

plural Hearts

1. A surname.