hero
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,880 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 9,547 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength RAF pilots were the heroes of the Battle of Britain
- the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
- someone who fights for a cause also: champion, fighter, paladin
- Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century) also: Heron, Hero of Alexandria
- (classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god
- (Greek mythology) priestess of Aphrodite who killed herself when her lover Leander drowned while trying to swim the Hellespont to see her
hero 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 hero gets hold of it, and the priests dog him and send him threatening messages.
Something New · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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Athene again urges the release of Odysseus; and Hermes is sent to bid Calypso let the hero go.
The Odyssey of Homer · 751? BCE-651? BCE Homer · Chapter 1
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This song and Edwin Markham’s poem on Lincoln are two of the greatest tributes ever paid to that hero.
Poems Every Child Should Know · Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth) [Editor] Burt · Chapter 1
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As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined themselves alone, and did not lower their voices.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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I had to decide whether we took a hero or an author, which I soon learnt to do with capricious resolution.
The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete · George Meredith · Chapter 1