heroine

== English == === Pronunciation === enPR: hîrōĭn IPA(key): /ˈhɪɹoʊɪn/ (General American) IPA(key): /hiro.ɪn/ (Indic) enPR: hĕrōĭn Homophone: heroin IPA(key): /ˈhɛɹəʊɪn/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɛɹoʊɪn/ (General American) === Etymology 1 === From Latin hērōīna, from late Ancient Greek ἡρωΐνη (hērōḯnē) (2nd century), a feminine equivalent of ἥρως (hḗrōs, “hero, demigod”), equivalent to hero +‎ -ine (suffix forming feminine nouns). English from 1587. The sense of "female lead character" is from 1715. ==== Noun ==== heroine (plural heroines) A female hero. A female lead character. ===== Usage notes ===== In sense 1, hero, the masculine of heroine, is sometimes used, though it is still acceptable to use the feminine. She is a hero (or heroine). Like feminine nouns formed with the suffix -ess, heroine refers only to females, whereas hero can refer to both men and women. Who is your favorite hero? (answer can refer to anyone) Who is your favorite heroine? (answer can refer only to women) ===== Alternative forms ===== heroin (obsolete) ===== Synonyms ===== shero hera (uncommon) ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Partly from the noun and partly from hero +‎ -ine (suffix forming adjectives). ==== Adjective ==== heroine (not comparable) (rare) Characteristic of a heroine; heroic. Synonyms: (rare) heroinely, heroinic === Etymology 3 === ==== Noun ==== heroine (uncountable) Dated form of heroin. === References ===