As soon as there is any departure from simplicity, and attempt at
halfness, or good for me that is not good for him, my neighbor
feels the wrong.
Emerson.
Half"pace` (-ps`), n. (Arch.) A platform of a staircase where the stair
turns back in exactly the reverse direction of the lower flight. See
Quarterpace.
This term and quarterpace are rare or unknown in the United States,
platform or landing being used instead.
Half"-pen*ny(h"pn*n or h‰f"-; 277),n.;pl. Half-pence (- pens) or
Half-pennies(- pn*nz). An English coin of the value of half a penny;
also, the value of half a penny.
Half"-pike` (h‰f"pk`), n. (Mil.) A short pike, sometimes carried by
officers of infantry, sometimes used in boarding ships; a spontoon.
Tatler.
Half"-port` (-prt`), n. (Naut.) One half of a shutter made in two parts
for closing a porthole.
Half"-ray` (-r`), n. (Geom.) A straight line considered as drawn from a
center to an indefinite distance in one direction, the complete ray
being the whole line drawn to an indefinite distance in both
directions.
Half"-read` (-rd`), a. Informed by insufficient reading; superficial;
shallow. Dryden.
Half" seas` o"ver (sz` "vr). Half drunk. [Slang: used only
predicatively.] Spectator.
Half"-sight`ed (-st`d), a. Seeing imperfectly; having weak discernment.
Bacon.
Half"-sis`ter (-ss`tr), n. A sister by one parent only.
Half"-strained` (-strnd`), a. Half-bred; imperfect. [R.] "A
half-strained villain." Dryden.
Half"-sword` (-srd`), n. Half the length of a sword; close fight. "At
half- sword." Shak.
Half"-tim`bered (-tm`brd), a. (Arch.) Constructed of a timber frame,
having the spaces filled in with masonry; -- said of buildings.
Half"-tongue` (-tng`), n. (O. Law) A jury, for the trial of a
foreigner, composed equally of citizens and aliens.
Half"way` (h‰f"w`), adv. In the middle; at half the distance;
imperfectly; partially; as, he halfway yielded.
Temples proud to meet their gods halfway.
Young.
Half"way`, a. Equally distant from the extremes; situated at an
intermediate point; midway.
Halfway covenant, a practice among the Congregational churches of New
England, between 1657 and 1662, of permitting baptized persons of moral
life and orthodox faith to enjoy all the privileges of church
membership, save the partaking of the Lord's Supper. They were also
allowed to present their children for baptism. -- Halfway house, an inn
or place of call midway on a journey.
Half"-wit` (-wt`), n. A foolish person; a dolt; a blockhead; a dunce.
Dryden.
Half"-wit`ted (-td), a. Weak in intellect; silly.
Half"-year`ly (-yr`l), a. Two in a year; semiannual. -- adv. Twice in a
year; semiannually.
Hal"i*but (hl"*bt; 277), n. [OE. hali holy + but, butte, flounder; akin
to D. bot, G. butte; cf. D. heilbot, G. heilbutt. So named as being
eaten on holidays. See Holy, Holiday.] (Zoˆl.) A large, northern,
marine flatfish (Hippoglossus vulgaris), of the family PleuronectidÊ.
It often grows very large, weighing more than three hundred pounds. It
is an important food fish. [Written also holibut.]
||Hal`i*chon"dri*Ê (hl`*kn"dr*), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. "a`ls, "alo`s,
||sea + cho`ndros cartilage.] (Zoˆl.) An order of sponges, having
||simple siliceous spicules and keratose fibers; -- called also
||Keratosilicoidea.
||Hal"i*core (hl"*kr; L. h*lk"*r), n. [NL., fr. Gr. "a`ls sea + ko`rh
||maiden.] Same as Dugong.
Hal"i*dom (hl"*dm), n. [AS. hligdm holiness, sacrament, sanctuary,
relics; hlig holy + - dm, E. -dom. See Holy.] 1. Holiness; sanctity;
sacred oath; sacred things; sanctuary; -- used chiefly in oaths.
[Archaic]
So God me help and halidom.
Piers Plowman.
By my halidom, I was fast asleep.
Shak.