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hem

 - 11 dictionary results

hem

1  [hem] verb, hemmed, hem⋅ming, noun
Use hem in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to fold back and sew down the edge of (cloth, a garment, etc.); form an edge or border on or around.
2. to enclose or confine (usually fol. by in, around, or about): hemmed in by enemies.
–noun
3. an edge made by folding back the margin of cloth and sewing it down.
4. the edge or border of a garment, drape, etc., esp. at the bottom.
5. the edge, border, or margin of anything.
6. Architecture. the raised edge forming the volute of an Ionic capital.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME hem(m), OE hem, prob. akin to hamm enclosure; see home

hem

2  [hem] interjection, noun, verb, hemmed, hem⋅ming.
–interjection
1. (an utterance resembling a slight clearing of the throat, used to attract attention, express doubt, etc.)
–noun
2. the utterance or sound of “hem.”
3. a sound or pause of hesitation: His sermon was full of hems and haws.
–verb (used without object)
4. to utter the sound “hem.”
5. to hesitate in speaking.
—Idiom
6. hem and haw,
a. to hesitate or falter: She hemmed and hawed a lot before she came to the point.
b. to speak noncommittally; avoid giving a direct answer: He hems and haws and comes out on both sides of every question.
Origin:
1520–30; imit.

hem-

 
var. of hemo- before a vowel: hemal.
Also, especially British, haem-.
Compare haemat-.

hemo-

 
a combining form meaning “blood,” used in the formation of compound words: hemocyte.
Also, hema-, hemato-; especially before a vowel, hem-; especially British, haemo-.

Origin:
< NL, comb. form repr. Gk haîma blood
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hem
hem 1   (hěm)   
n.  

  1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.

  2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.

tr.v.   hemmed, hem·ming, hems

  1. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

  2. To surround and shut in; enclose: a valley hemmed in by mountains. See Synonyms at enclose.


[Middle English, from Old English hem, hemm.]
hem'mer n.
hem 2   (hěm)   
n.  A short cough or clearing of the throat made especially to gain attention, warn another, hide embarrassment, or fill a pause in speech.
intr.v.   hemmed, hem·ming, hems

  1. To utter a hem.

  2. To hesitate in speech.


[From Middle English heminge, coughing, of imitative origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hem  (n.)
O.E. hem "a border," from P.Gmc. *khamjanan (cf. O.N. hemja "to bridle, curb," O.Fris. hemma "to hinder," M.Du., Ger. hemmen "to hem in, stop, hinder"), from the same root that yielded hamper and O.E. hamm, common in place names (where it means "enclosure, land hemmed in by water or high ground, land in a river bend"). The phrase hem in "shut in, confine," first recorded 1538. Hem-line first attested 1923.

hem  (interj.)
1470, probably imitative of the sound of clearing the throat. Hem and haw first recorded 1786, from haw "hesitation," first recorded 1632.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

hem- pref.
Variant of hemo-.

hemo- or hema- or hem- or haemo- or haema- or haem-
pref.
Blood: hemocyte.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Bible Dictionary

Hem

of a garment, the fringe of a garment. The Jews attached much importance to these, because of the regulations in Num. 15:38, 39. These borders or fringes were in process of time enlarged so as to attract special notice (Matt. 23:5). The hem of Christ's garment touched (9:20; 14:36; Luke 8:44).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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