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heart
- Main Entry:
- 1heart
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈhärt\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Middle English hert, from Old English heorte; akin to Old High German herza heart, Latin cord-, cor, Greek kardia
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a: a hollow muscular organ of vertebrate animals that by its rhythmic contraction acts as a force pump maintaining the circulation of the blood b: a structure in an invertebrate animal functionally analogous to the vertebrate heart c: breast, bosom d: something resembling a heart in shape; specifically : a stylized representation of a heart2 a: a playing card marked with a stylized figure of a red heart bplural : the suit comprising cards marked with hearts cplural but sing or plural in constr : a game in which the object is to avoid taking tricks containing hearts3 a: personality, disposition <a cold heart> bobsolete : intellect4: the emotional or moral as distinguished from the intellectual nature: as a: generous disposition : compassion <a leader with heart> b: love, affections <won her heart> c: courage, ardor <never lost heart> 5: one's innermost character, feelings, or inclinations <knew it in his heart> <a man after my own heart>6 a: the central or innermost part : center b: the essential or most vital part of something c: the younger central compact part of a leafy rosette (as a head of lettuce)
— by heart : by rote or from memory — to heart : with deep concern
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