heart
the locus of feelings and intuitions
How often you will meet it
Rank 173 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 137,116 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.065% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- the locus of feelings and intuitions also: bosom in your heart you know it is trueher story would melt your bosom
- the hollow muscular organ located behind the sternum and between the lungs; its rhythmic contractions move the blood through the body also: pump, ticker he stood still, his heart thumping wildly
- the courage to carry on also: mettle, nerve, spunk he kept fighting on pure spunkyou haven't got the heart for baseball
- an area that is approximately central within some larger region also: center, centre, middle, eye it is in the center of townthey ran forward into the heart of the struggle
- the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience also: kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence the gist of the prosecutor's argumentthe heart and soul of the Republican Party
- an inclination or tendency of a certain kind also: spirit he had a change of heart
heart in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The girl crossed her heart and body swiftly.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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Her heart leaped with a sudden ecstasy, involuntary and uncontrollable.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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He spoke in so very melancholy a tone, that it quite melted Gluck's heart.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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Lord Henry felt as if he could hear Basil Hallward’s heart beating, and wondered what was coming.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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My heart is sad and it is not my will To send you hence, but naught is left to do.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1