hero

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English heroes, from Old French heroes, from Latin hērōs (“hero”), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (hḗrōs, “demi-god, hero”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to watch over, protect”); if so, related to Latin servo (“protect”). Displaced Middle English heleð, haleð, from Old English hæleþ, hæle. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ/, [ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ~ˈçɪə.ɹəʊ] (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/, /ˈhiɹ.oʊ/ (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈhɛɹ.oʊ/ Hyphenation: he‧ro Rhymes: -ɪəɹəʊ === Noun === hero (plural heroes or (sandwich sense) heros) Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds. A role model. The protagonist in a work of fiction. (poker) The current player, especially a hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”). (New York) A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses; a hero sandwich. (film, photography, chiefly attributive) The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie. (web design) The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold. (cooking) The standout component of a dish; the part of a dish that should take center stage on the palate. === Verb === hero (third-person singular simple present heroes or heros, present participle heroing or (rare) heroeing, simple past and past participle heroed) (informal, intransitive) To act as a hero (brave person; role model; or protagonist). (transitive) To praise or laud. (transitive) To bring attention to; to highlight; to spotlight. ==== Synonyms ==== see Thesaurus:hero (sandwich): see sub ==== Coordinate terms ==== heroine (“hero (female)”) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Gujarati: હીરો (hīro) → Hindi: हीरो (hīro) ⇒ Ido: heroo → Japanese: ヒーロー (hīrō) → Korean: 히어로 (hieoro) → Telugu: హీరో (hīrō) → Thai: ฮีโร่ (hii-rôo) ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== kamikaze martyr shaheed ==== References ==== === Anagrams === rheo-, Roeh, heor, Rohe, hoer, rohe == German == === Adverb === hero (archaic) alternative form of her === Further reading === “hero” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961. == Latin == === Etymology 1 === ==== Pronunciation ==== (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈhɛ.roː] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈɛː.ro] ==== Noun ==== herō dative/ablative singular of herus === Etymology 2 === ==== Pronunciation ==== (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈheː.roː] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈɛː.ro] ==== Noun ==== hērō m (genitive hērōnis); third declension alternative form of aerō (“wicker basket; hamper”) ===== Declension ===== Third-declension noun. === Further reading === “hero”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette. hero in Georges, Karl Ernst; Georges, Heinrich (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th edition, volume 1, Hahnsche Buchhandlung R. E. Latham, D. R. Howlett, & R. K. Ashdowne, editors (1975–2013), “hero”, in Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources‎[2], London: Oxford University Press for the British Academy, →ISBN, →OCLC == Luo == === Etymology === (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) === Pronunciation === === Verb === hero to love == Middle English == === Determiner === hero alternative form of here (“their”) == Tagalog == === Alternative forms === hiro === Etymology === Borrowed from Spanish hierro (“branding iron”), from Old Spanish fierro, from Latin ferrum. Doublet of yero. === Pronunciation === (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ˈheɾo/ [ˈhɛː.ɾo] Rhymes: -eɾo Syllabification: he‧ro === Noun === hero (Baybayin spelling ᜑᜒᜇᜓ) brand (mark or scar made by burning with a branding iron, especially to mark cattle) Synonyms: tatak, tanda branding iron (piece of metal bent into a distinctive shape, heated and used to brand livestock) Synonym: panghero ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “hero”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2025 “hero”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018