Hernandia 
and fertile, and the lateral ones staminate with short 
pedicels. The leaves are alternate, entire, ovate or pel- 
tate, and the drnpe is inclosed in the enlarged involucre. 
The plants grow in the tropical regions of both hemi- 
spheres. //. Sonora, or jack-in-a-box, is so called from the 
noise made by the wind whistling through its persistent 
involucels. The juice of the leaves is a powerful depila- 
tory, destroying the hair without pain wherever it is ap- 
plied. The wood is light ; that of II. Ouianensis takes 
tire readily from a Hint and steel, and is used in the same 
way as amadou. 
Hernandiaceae (her-nan-di-a'se-e), . pi. [NL., 
< Hernandia + -aceee.] A natural order of 
plants, typified by the geims^Hcrnandin, estab- 
lished by Endlicher in 1836 : now synonymous 
with Laurinece. 
Hernandieae (her-uan-di'e-e), n. pi. [NL., < 
Hernandia + -eee.] A division of apetalous 
plants, made by Lindley (1847) a tribe of the 
Tliymeleacece with Hernandia as the type, and by 
others a tribe of the Laurinew embracing the 
single genus Hernandia. 
hernant-seed8(her'nant-sedz),i. j>Z. The seeds 
of Hernandia ovigerajused. in dyeing. [Trade- 
name.] 
hernepant, n. See harn-pan. 
hernert (her'ner), n. [Early mod. E. also hear- 
nnr; contr. of heroner, as hern 3 of heron: see 
heroner.'] Same as heroner. Cotgrave. 
hernia (her'ni-a), . [= F. hernie = Pr. Sp. Pg. 
hernia = It. eriiia, < L. hernia, a rupture, her- 
nia.] In surg., a tumor formed by the dis- 
placement and protrusion of a part which has 
escaped from its natural cavity by some aper- 
ture, and projects externally; rupture: as, her- 
nia of the brain, of the thorax, or of the ab- 
domen. Hernia of the abdomen, the most common 
form, consists of the protrusion of some part of the viscera 
through a natural or an accidental aperture in the inner 
wall of the abdomen, the external skin generally remain- 
ing unbroken. It is named specifically from its situation. 
Cerebral hernia, protrusion of the brain through an 
opening in the cranial walls. Crural hernia. Same as 
femoral hernia. Femoral hernia, a hernia descending 
beside the femoral vessels. Also called crural hernia. 
Inguinal hernia, a hernia of the intestine or omentum 
which descends through the inguinal canal. Lumbar 
hernia, a hernia in the loins or lumbar region. Oblique 
inguinal hernia, a hernia whose course is that of the 
spermatic cord, through the inguinal canal : opposed to 
direct inguinal hernia. Phrenic hernia, a hernia pro- 
jecting through the diaphragm into one of the pleural 
cavities. Strangulated hernia, a hernia so tightly 
compressed in some part of the channel through which 
it has been protruded as not to be reducible by ordinary 
means, as by the application of pressure, and to interfere 
with the circulation in the protruded part. Umbilical 
hernia, hernia of the intestine at the navel ; exomphalos. 
hernia! (her'ni-al), . [= OF. hernial; as her- 
nia + -al.~\ Pertaining to or connected with 
hernia. Also hernious. 
Herniaria (her-ni-a'ri-ji), n. [NL. (Linnaeus, 
1753), < L. hernia, hernia: see hernia and def.J 
A genus of small prostrate plants, belonging to 
the tribe Paronychieat of the natural order Ille- 
cebracea:. It is chiefly distinguished by its 5-cleft peri- 
anth, short style with 2 stigmas, annular embryo, and in- 
ferior radicle. The genus includes 8 or 10 species of annual 
or perennial herbs, with small entire leaves, scarious stip- 
ules, and minute green flowers, crowded in the axils. They 
are natives of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and were former- 
ly supposed to be useful in the cure of hernia ; hence the 
generic name and the common name rupturewort. 
herniated (her'ni-a-ted), a. [< hernia + -ate\ 
+ -erf 2 .] Affected with hernia; enveloped in 
a hernial sac. 
In another class of cases the herniated loop becomes 
fixed to the abdominal wall by adhesions after reduction. 
N. Y. Med. Jour., XL. 304. 
hernioid (her'ni-pid), a. [< hernia + -oid.~\ 
Resembling hernia. 
In this place may be mentioned the curious and some- 
times puzzling hernioid protrusions to be met with in 
some plants. Bessey, Botany, p. 29. 
herniplogy (her-ni-ol'o-ji), n. [< L. hernia, 
hernia, + Gr. -/loyi'a,< Aeyeiv, speak: see -ology.] 
1. That branch of surgery which treats of rup- 
tures. 2. A treatise on ruptures. 
herniotomy (her-ni-ot'o-mi), . [< L. hernia, 
hernia, + Gr. TO/JJ/, a cutting, < TC/IVCIV, rafieiv, 
cut.] In surg., the operation of cutting for her- 
nia; celotomy. 
hernious (her'ni-us), a. [< hernia + -OH*.] 
Same as heniinl. 
hernsewt (hern'su), n. [Early mod. E. also 
hearnsewe, hcrnsue; a contr. of heronsew, q. v. 
Cf. hernshaw 2 .] Same as heronsew. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
Leaving me to stalk here, . . . 
Like a tame her'nshew for you. 
It. Jonson, Staple of News, i. 1. 
hernshawH (hern'sha), n. [< 7im(3 -I- shaw.] 
A shaw or wood in which herons breed; a 
heronry. 
Haironnier [F.], a heron's nest or ayrie; a herneshaw, 
or shaw or wood wherein herons breed. Cotgrave. 
177 
2807 
hernshaw 2 (hern'sha), n. [Formerly also hcni- 
H/n-ir, a contr. of licrnnxhinr; a var. of liernm-ir. 
lifroiisew (appar. not by association with hern- 
.s7m-l, a heronry, which appears to be later): 
see heronsew.^ If. A heron; a heronsew. 
As when a cast of Faulcons make their tllght, 
At an Herneshaw, that lyes aloft on wing. 
Spenser, F. IJ., VI. vil. 9. 
2. In her., the representation of a heron, crane, 
or stork (all appearing alike) TO know a hawk 
from a hernshaw. See under hand-saw. 
hero (he'ro), ?(. ; pi. heroes (-roz). [< OF. heroe, 
F. heros = Sp. heroe = Pg. heroe = It. eroe, < L. 
heros, ace. heroem, < Gr. fjpuc, a hero, usually a 
warrior, but in Homer a comprehensive term, 
and orig. applied to any freeman, being appar. 
= Skt. vira, a man, a hero, = L. vir, a man, = 
Goth, wair = A S. wer, a man : see wergild, wer- 
wolf.'] 1. In classical myth., a superior being, 
distinguished from ordinary men chiefly by 
greater physical strength, courage, and abil- 
ity, at the time of the Homeric poems still re- 
garded as mortal, but from the time of Hesiod 
(about the eighth century B. c.) regarded as in- 
termediate in nature between gods and men (a 
demigod), and immortal. Except in the case of Her- 
cules, the Greek cult of heroes was essentially local, each 
country, region, or even town holding its own in especial 
honor. Thus Theseus was the national hero of Attica, 
Ajax was especially honored in Salamis, Amphiaraus at 
Orchomenus; while Lycurgus became a hero in Sparta, 
and Hesiod himself in Bceotia. The ancient veneration of 
heroes was to some extent parallel with that now paid to 
the saints of Christianity. 
Kings and queens, and heroes old, 
Such as the wise Demodocus once told 
In solemn songs at King Alcinous' feast. 
Milton, Vac. Ex., 1. 47. 
2. A man of distinguished valor, intrepidity, 
or enterprise in danger ; a prominent or central 
personage in any remarkable action or event ; 
one who exhibits extraordinary courage, firm- 
ness, fortitude, or intellectual greatness in any 
course of action. 
Behold Achilles' promise fully paid, 
Twelve Trojan heroes offer'd to thy shade. 
Pope, Iliad, xxiii. 
It would not do to have too many heroes and saints. An 
army made up wholly of generals would win no battles. 
J. F. Clarice, Self-Culture, p. 38. 
3. The principal male personage in a poem, 
play, or story, or the person who has the chief 
place and share in the transactions related, as 
Achilles in the Iliad, Odysseus (Ulysses) in the 
Odyssey, JDneas in the JSneid. 
The shining quality of an epic hero, his magnanimity, 
his constancy, his patience, his piety, . . . raises first our 
admiration. Dryden, Mneid, Ded. 
Why not a summer's as a winter's tale? . . . 
Heroic if you will, or what you will, 
Or be yourself your hero. Tennyson, Princess, Prol. 
4. A person regarded as heroic ; one invested 
by opinion with heroic qualities. 
The war was a popular one, and as a natural conse- 
quence, soldiers and sailors were heroes everywhere. 
Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers, xli. 
No one is a hero to his valet. Proverb. 
heroa, n. Plural of heroum, heroon. 
heroarchy (he'ro-ar-ki), n. ; pi. heroarchies 
(-kiz). [\ Gr. >'/puf, a hero, + npxi, rule, < ap%eiv, 
rule.] See the extract. 
All dignities of rank, on which human association rests, 
are what we may call a Heroarchy (Government of He- 
roes) or a Hierarchy, for it is "sacred" enough withal ! 
Carlyle, Heroes and Hero-Worship, i. 
Herodiae (he-ro'di-e), re. pi. [NL., fern, pi.] 
Same as Herodii, 2. Nitzsch. 
Herodian ' (he-ro'di-an), a. and n. [< LL. Hero- 
dianus, < Herodes, < Gr. 'Hp<ioVf, Herod, < rjpuf, 
a hero, + -oV, patronymic suffix.] I. a. Per- 
taining to Herod the Great, king of the Jews, 
or to the family of Herod or its partizans. 
We are no advocates of that Herodian policy which pro- 
fanely and sacrilegiously would subject the things of God 
to the will of Caesar. 
Bp. Chr. Wordsworth, Church of Ireland, p. 172. 
II. n. A member of a party among the Jews 
in the time of Christ and the apostles, adher- 
ents of the family of Herod. The Herodians con- 
stituted a political party rather than a religions sect. 
Some writers suppose that they were for the most part 
Sadducees in religion. 
The Herodians appear as supporters of the claim of the 
Roman Emperors to receive tribute-money from the Jews. 
H. B. Hackett, Smith's Bible Diet., p. 1054. 
herodian 2 (he-ro'di-an), n. One of the Herodii 
or Herodiones. 
Herodias (he-ro'di-as), re. [NL., also written 
Herodius (LL. herodius) and prop. Erodius, < 
Gr. cpu6i6(, a heron: see Ardea.] A genus of 
large white herons or egrets. H. egretta is the great 
white egret of North America, H. alba is the correspond- 
ing European form. See cut under egret. 
heroic 
Herodii (he-ro'di-I), n. pi. [NL., pi. of Hero- 
fliiis.] 1. In the broadest sense, same as He- 
rodiones or I't'luri/o>nor)>liti'. 2. In a more re- 
stricted sense, the heron series of altricial gral- 
latorial birds: a suborder or superfamily ex- 
cluding storks and ibises. The leading family 
is Ardeida: Also Herodice. 
Herodiones (he-ro-di-6'nez), n. pi. [NL., pi. 
of LL. herodio(n-), also herodiua, a bird, per- 
haps the stork, < Gr. c/iaotof, a heron : see 
Herodias."] An order of birds, the altricial 
desmognathous grallatores, or herons, storks, 
ibises, spoonbills, and their allies, correspond- 
ing to Herodii in a broad sense, or to Pelargo- 
morphce. In some uses of the name certain incongru- 
ous forms have been included, but are now eliminated. 
The Cultriroslren and the Grallatores of some authors are 
correspondent groups. The Herodiones are divisible into 
three suborders, linden, Pelargi, and Herodii. 
The group here noted [Herodiones] corresponds to the 
Pelargomorphse of Huxley, the Ciconiiformes of Garrod 
(minus Cathartidse), the Grallatores altinares of Sunde- 
vall, and includes the Herodite, Pelargi, and Hemiglot- 
tides of Nitzsch respectively the Heron series, the Stork 
series, and the series of Ibises and Spoonbills. 
Coues, Key to N. A. Birds, p. 648. 
herodionine (he-ro-di-o'nin), a. [< Herodion-es 
+ -inel.] Of or pertaining to the Herodiones; 
heron-like ; ardeine, in a broad sense. 
Herodius (he-ro'di-us), n. [NL.] Same as He- 
rodias. 
Herodotean (he-rod-o-te'an), a. [< Herodotus 
+ -e-an.] Pertaining to, characteristic of. or 
in the style of Herodotus, a Greek historian 
of the fifth century B. c., called the "father 
of history." 
Roger of Hoveden is quite Herodotean both in the faith- 
fulness of his personal relations and in the wish to incor- 
porate in his chronicle all that he can gather touching 
the geography and history of strange lands. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 148. 
heroesst (he'ro-es), n. [< hero + -ess. Cf. Gr. 
i/puiaaa, contr. 7/puaaa, fern, of ijpuc,, hero: see 
hero.'] A female hero; a heroine. 
But all th' heroesses in Pluto's house, 
That then encounter'd me, exceeds my might 
To name or number. Chairman, Odyssey, xi. 
heroic (he-ro'ik), a. and re. [Formerly heroick ; 
= F. heroique = Sp. heroico = Pg. heroico = It. 
eroico, < L. heroicus, < Gr. ijpui/cdf, of or for a 
hero, < rjpuf, a hero: see hero."] I. a. 1. Hav- 
ing or displaying the character or attributes of 
a hero; daring; intrepid; determined: as, a 
heroic warrior or explorer. 
He [Henry IV.] 
From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree, 
Being but fourth of that heroic line. 
Shah., 1 Hen. VI., ii. 6. 
The Heroic Sufferer for principle and generous affection 
wins the love of all uncorruptea hearts. 
Chanmng, Perfect Life, p. 179. 
2. Of or pertaining to heroes ; suitable to the 
character of a hero ; bold, daring, noble, or 
commanding in proportions, form, or quality: 
as, a heroic statue or monument ; a heroic poem 
or symphony; a heroic enterprise ; specifically, 
in art, larger than life: said of a statue, or a 
figure in a picture. See heroic size, below. 
Goe on both hand in hand, Nations, never to be dis- 
united ; be the Praise and the Heroick Song of all Posterity. 
Milton, Reformation in Eng., ii. 
An heroic poem, truly such, is the greatest work which 
the soul of man is capable to perform. 
Dryden, JSneid, Ded. 
I would have every thing to be esteemed as heroic which 
is great and uncommon in the circumstances of the man 
who performs it. Steele, Tatler, No. 202. 
While the golden lyre 
Is ever sounding in heroic ears 
Heroic hymns. Tennyson, Tiresias. 
3. Having recourse to extreme measures; 
boldly experimental ; daring ; rash : as, heroic 
treatment. 
Here again an improvement on the heroic practice of 
Alva and Romero. Motley, United Netherlands, III. 456. 
Heroic age, in Or. hist, or myth., the age when the he- 
roes are supposed to have lived, a semi-mythical period 
preceding that which is truly historic. See hero, 1. He- 
roic size, in the fine arts, any size larger than life : usu- 
ally taken as a size intermediate between that of life and 
the colossal : as, a statue of heroic size. Heroic verse, 
a form of verse adapted to the treatment of heroic or ex- 
alted themes : in classical poetry, the hexameter ; in Eng- 
lish, as also in German and Italian, the iambic of ten syl- 
lables; and in French, the Alexandrian (which see). The 
following is an example of English heroic verse : 
Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring 
Of woes unnumbered, heavenly goddess, sing t 
Pope, Iliad, i. 1. 
= Syn. Gallant, Valiant, etc. (see brave), daring, fearless, 
dauntless. 
II. n. If. A hero. 
Many other particular circumstances of his [Homer's] 
gods assisting the ancient heroics might justly breed of- 
fence to any serious reader. JacLton. 
