hem

hem
I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle High German hemmen to hem in, Armenian kamel to press Date: before 12th century 1. a border of a cloth article doubled back and stitched down 2. rim, margin <
bright green hem of reeds about the ponds — R. M. Lockley
> II. verb (hemmed; hemming) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to finish with a hem b. border, edge 2. to surround in a restrictive manner ; confine — usually used with in <
hemmed in by enemy troops
> intransitive verb to make a hem in sewing • hemmer noun III. intransitive verb (hemmed; hemming) Date: 15th century 1. to utter the sound represented by hem <
hemmed and hawed before answering
> 2. equivocate <
the administration hemmed and hawed over the students' demands
> IV. interjection Etymology: imitative — often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Synonyms:
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  • hem — hem …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • hem — hem·a·chate; hem·a·tin; hem·a·tin·om·e·ter; hem·a·tite; hem·a·tit·ic; hem·a·to·blast; hem·a·to·cele; hem·a·to·chrome; hem·a·to·col·pos; hem·a·to·cryal; hem·a·to·cyte; hem·a·tog·e·nous; hem·a·to·gone; hem·a·to·lite; hem·a·to·log·ic;… …   English syllables

  • hem — [ ɛm; hɛm ] interj. • XVIe; onomat. ♦ Interjection servant à appeler (⇒ hé, holà), à interroger (⇒ hein), à exprimer le doute, un scepticisme moqueur, certains sous entendus (⇒ hum). « Hem ? quoi ? que voulez vous ? » (Marivaux). ♢ Onomatopée… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • hem — 1. (hèm ) interj. 1°   On s en sert pour appeler. Hem, hem, venez çà. 2°   On s en sert aussi pour interroger. •   As tu l effronterie de m assurer que tu n as rien vu ? hem ! réponds, parle, HAUTEROCHE le Coch. 3. •   Beau père, ainsi je crois… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Hem — Escudo …   Wikipedia Español

  • Hem — Hem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hemmed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hemming}.] 1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] 2. To border; to edge [1913 Webster] All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hem — bezeichnet: eine Gemeinde in der französischen Region Nord Pas de Calais, siehe Hem (Nord) eine Ortschaft in der Skive Kommune in Dänemark, siehe Hem (Dänemark) eine Band aus Brooklyn, New York City, siehe Hem (Band) Hem ist der Familienname… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • hem — HEM, hemuri, s.n. Nucleu al hemoglobinei şi al altor pigmenţi respiratori celulari, de care se leagă un ion de fier. – Din fr. hème Trimis de gall, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  hem s. n., pl. hémuri Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar… …   Dicționar Român

  • hem — hem1 [hem] n. [ME < OE, akin to MLowG ham, enclosed piece of land < IE base * kem , to compress, impede > HAMPER1] 1. the border on a garment or piece of cloth, usually made by folding the edge and sewing it down 2. any border, edge, or… …   English World dictionary

  • Hem — Hem, v. i. [[root]15. See {Hem}, interj.] To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. Hem, and stroke thy beard. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hem — Hem, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. h[ a]mel, Prov. G. hammel hem of mire or dirt.] 1. The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen it and prevent raveling. [1913 Webster] 2. Border; edge; margin. Hem… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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