Hero

hē′rō, n. a man of distinguished bravery: any illustrious person: the principal figure in any history or work of fiction: ( orig. ) a demigod:— fem. Heroine (her′ō-in). — adj. Herō′ic , becoming a hero: courageous: illustrious: daring, rash.— n. a heroic verse: ( pl. ) extravagant phrases, bombast.— adj. Herō′ical .— adv. Herō′ically —( Milt. ) Herō′icly .— ns. Herō′icalne , Herō′icne .— adjs. Herō′icomic , -al , consisting of a mixture of heroic and comic: designating the high burlesque.— ns. Her′oism , the qualities of a hero: courage: boldne ; Hē′roship , the state of being a hero; Hē′ro-wor′ship , the worship of heroes: exce ive admiration of great men.— Heroic age , the semi-mythical period of Greek history, when the heroes or demigods were represented to have lived among men; Heroic medicines , such as either kill or cure; Heroic size , in sculpture, larger than life, but le than colo al; Heroic verse , the style of verse in which the exploits of heroes are celebrated (in cla ical poetry, the hexameter; in English and German, the iambic of ten syllables; in French, the alexandrine). [Through O. Fr. and L. from Gr. hērōs ; akin to L. vir , A.S. wer , a man, Sans. víra , a hero.]