9. (Pron.) Abrupt or explosive in utterance; not aspirated, sibilated,
or pronounced with a gradual change of the organs from one position to
another; -- said of certain consonants, as c in came, and g in go, as
distinguished from the same letters in center, general, etc.
10. Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard
tone.
11. (Painting) (a) Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures;
formal; lacking grace of composition. (b) Having disagreeable and
abrupt contrasts in the coloring or light and shade.
Hard cancer, Hard case, etc. See under Cancer, Case, etc. -- Hard clam,
or Hard-shelled clam (Zoˆl.), the quahog. -- Hard coal, anthracite, as
distinguished from bituminous or soft coal. -- Hard and fast. (Naut.)
See under Fast. -- Hard finish (Arch.), a smooth finishing coat of hard
fine plaster applied to the surface of rough plastering. -- Hard lines,
hardship; difficult conditions. -- Hard money, coin or specie, as
distinguished from paper money. -- Hard oyster (Zoˆl.), the northern
native oyster. [Local, U. S.] -- Hard pan, the hard stratum of earth
lying beneath the soil; hence, figuratively, the firm, substantial,
fundamental part or quality of anything; as, the hard pan of character,
of a matter in dispute, etc. See Pan. -- Hard rubber. See under Rubber.
-- Hard solder. See under Solder. -- Hard water, water, which contains
lime or some mineral substance rendering it unfit for washing. See
Hardness, 3. -- Hard wood, wood of a solid or hard texture; as walnut,
oak, ash, box, and the like, in distinction from pine, poplar, hemlock,
etc. -- In hard condition, in excellent condition for racing; having
firm muscles; -- said of race horses.
Syn. -- Solid; arduous; powerful; trying; unyielding; stubborn; stern;
flinty; unfeeling; harsh; difficult; severe; obdurate; rigid. See
Solid, and Arduous.
Hard, adv. [OE. harde, AS. hearde.] 1. With pressure; with urgency;
hence, diligently; earnestly.
And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince.
Dryden.
My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.
Shak.