Main Entry: ¹he·ro·ic

Pronunciation: \hi-ˈrō-ik also her-ˈō- or hē-ˈrō-\

Variant(s): also he·ro·ical \-i-kəl\

Function: adjective

Date: 1549

1 : of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting heroes especially of antiquity
2 a : exhibiting or marked by courage and daring b : supremely noble or self-sacrificing
3 a : of impressive size, power, extent, or effect <a heroic voice> b (1) : of great intensity : extreme <heroic effort> (2) : of a kind that is likely only to be undertaken to save a life <heroic surgery>
4 : of, relating to, or constituting drama written during the Restoration in heroic couplets and concerned with a conflict between love and honor

— he·ro·ical·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb