The genus originally included nearly all shells, but is now greatly
restricted. See Snail, Pulmonifera.
Hell (?), n. [AS. hell; akin to D. hel, OHG. hella, G. hˆlle, Icel.
hal, Sw. helfvete, Dan. helvede, Goth. halja, and to AS. helan to
conceal. &?;&?;&?;. Cf. Hele, v. t., Conceal, Cell, Helmet, Hole,
Occult.]
1. The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the grave; -- called
in Hebrew sheol, and by the Greeks hades.
He descended into hell.
Book of Common Prayer.
Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.
Ps. xvi. 10.
2. The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death; the
abode of evil spirits. Hence, any mental torment; anguish. "Within him
hell." Milton.
It is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell.
Shak.
3. A place where outcast persons or things are gathered; as: (a) A
dungeon or prison; also, in certain running games, a place to which
those who are caught are carried for detention. (b) A gambling house.
"A convenient little gambling hell for those who had grown reckless."
W. Black. (c) A place into which a tailor throws his shreds, or a
printer his broken type. Hudibras.
Gates of hell. (Script.) See Gate, n., 4.
Hell, v. t. To overwhelm. [Obs.] Spenser.
Hel`la*nod"ic (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?;, &?;, a Greek + &?; right,
judgment.] (Gr. Antiq.) A judge or umpire in games or combats.
Hell"bend`er (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A large North American aquatic salamander
(Protonopsis horrida or Menopoma Alleghaniensis). It is very voracious
and very tenacious of life. Also called alligator, and water dog.
Hell"born` (?), a. Born in or of hell. Shak.
Hell"bred` (?), a. Produced in hell. Spenser.
Hell"brewed` (?), a. Prepared in hell. Milton.
Hell"broth` (?), n. A composition for infernal purposes; a magical
preparation. Shak.
Hell"-cat ` (?), n. A witch; a hag. Middleton.
Hell"-div`er (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The dabchick.
Hell"doomed` (?), a. Doomed to hell. Milton.
Hel"le*bore (?), n. [L. helleborus, elleborus, Gr. &?;, &?;; cf. F.
hellÈbore, ellÈbore.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial herbs (Helleborus) of the Crowfoot
family, mostly having powerfully cathartic and even poisonous
qualities. H. niger is the European black hellebore, or Christmas rose,
blossoming in winter or earliest spring. H. officinalis was the
officinal hellebore of the ancients.
2. (Bot.) Any plant of several species of the poisonous liliaceous
genus Veratrum, especially V. album and V. viride, both called white
hellebore.
Hel`le*bo"re*in (?), n. (Chem.) A poisonous glucoside accompanying
helleborin in several species of hellebore, and extracted as a white
crystalline substance with a bittersweet taste. It has a strong action
on the heart, resembling digitalin.
Hel*leb"o*rin (? or ?), n. (Chem.) A poisonous glucoside found in
several species of hellebore, and extracted as a white crystalline
substance with a sharp tingling taste. It possesses the essential
virtues of the plant; -- called also elleborin.
Hel"le*bo*rism (?), n. The practice or theory of using hellebore as a
medicine.
Hel"lene (?), n. [Gr. &?;.] A native of either ancient or modern
Greece; a Greek. Brewer.
Hel*le"ni*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Hellenes, or Greeks.
Hel*len"ic (?; 277), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. &?; the Greeks.] Of or
pertaining to the Hellenes, or inhabitants of Greece; Greek; Grecian.
"The Hellenic forces." Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Hel*len"ic, n. The dialect, formed with slight variations from the
Attic, which prevailed among Greek writers after the time of Alexander.
Hel"len*ism (?), n. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. HellÈnisme.] 1. A phrase or form
of speech in accordance with genius and construction or idioms of the
Greek language; a Grecism. Addison.
2. The type of character of the ancient Greeks, who aimed at culture,
grace, and amenity, as the chief elements in human well-being and
perfection.
Hel"len*ist (?), n. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. HellÈniste.] 1. One who affiliates
with Greeks, or imitates Greek manners; esp., a person of Jewish
extraction who used the Greek language as his mother tongue, as did the
Jews of Asia Minor, Greece, Syria, and Egypt; distinguished from the
Hebraists, or native Jews (Acts vi. 1).
2. One skilled in the Greek language and literature; as, the critical
Hellenist.
{ Hel`le*nis"tic (?), Hel`le*nis"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F.
HellÈnistique.] Pertaining to the Hellenists.
Hellenistic language, dialect, or idiom, the Greek spoken or used by
the Jews who lived in countries where the Greek language prevailed; the
Jewish-Greek dialect or idiom of the Septuagint.
Hel`le*nis"tic*al*ly, adv. According to the Hellenistic manner or
dialect. J. Gregory.
Hel"len*ize (?), v. i. [Gr. &?;.] To use the Greek language; to play
the Greek; to Grecize.
Hel"len*ize (?), v. t. [Gr. &?;.] To give a Greek form or character to;
to Grecize; as, to Hellenize a word.
Hel*len"o*type (?), n. See Ivorytype.
Hel"les*pont (?), n. [L. Hellespontus, Gr. &?;; &?; the mythological
Helle, daughter of Athamas + &?; sea.] A narrow strait between Europe
and Asia, now called the Daradanelles. It connects the ∆gean Sea and
the sea of Marmora.
Hel`les*pon"tine (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Hellespont. Mitford.
{ Hell"ga*mite (?), Hell"gra*mite (?), } n. (Zoˆl.) The aquatic larva
of a large American winged insect (Corydalus cornutus), much used a
fish bait by anglers; the dobson. It belongs to the Neuroptera.
Hell"hag` (?), n. A hag of or fit for hell. Bp. Richardson.
Hell"-haunt`ed (&?;), a. Haunted by devils; hellish. Dryden.
Hell"hound` (?), n. [AS. hellehund.] A dog of hell; an agent of hell.
A hellhound, that doth hunt us all to death.
Shak.
Hel"li*er (?), n. [See Hele, v. t.] One who heles or covers; hence, a
tiler, slater, or thatcher. [Obs.] [Written also heler.] Usher.
Hell"ish (?), a. Of or pertaining to hell; like hell; infernal;
malignant; wicked; detestable; diabolical. "Hellish hate." Milton. --
Hell"ish*ly, adv. -- Hell"ish*ness, n.
Hell"kite` (?), n. A kite of infernal breed. Shak.
Hel*lo" (?), interj. & n. See Halloo.
Hell"ward (?), adv. Toward hell. Pope.
Hell"y, a. [AS. hellc.] Hellish. Anderson (1573).
Helm (?), n. See Haulm, straw.
Helm (?), n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel.
hjlm, and perh. to E. helve.]
1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising rudder,
tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone.
2. The place or office of direction or administration. "The helm of the
Commonwealth." Melmoth.
3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman; hence, a
guide; a director.
The helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers.
Shak.