HEM

hem

(noun) the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down; ā€œthe hem of her dress was stainedā€; ā€œlet down the hemā€; ā€œhe stitched weights into the curtainā€™s hemā€; ā€œit seeped along the hem of his jacketā€

hem, ahem

(noun) the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.

hem

(verb) utter ā€˜hemā€™ or ā€˜ahemā€™

hem

(verb) fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; ā€œhem my skirtā€

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Proper noun

Hem (plural Hems)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Hem is the 24499th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 1021 individuals. Hem is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander (77.08%) and White (17.43%) individuals.

Anagrams

• Meh, meh

Etymology 1

A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)

Interjection

hem

Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

Noun

hem (plural hems)

An utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.

Verb

hem (third-person singular simple present hems, present participle hemming, simple past and past participle hemmed)

To make the sound expressed by the word hem; to hesitate in speaking.

Etymology 2

Noun

hem (plural hems)

(sewing) The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying.

A rim or margin of something.

In sheet metal design, a rim or edge folded back on itself to create a smooth edge and to increase strength or rigidity.

Verb

hem (third-person singular simple present hems, present participle hemming, simple past and past participle hemmed)

(intransitive) (in sewing) To make a hem.

(transitive): To put hem on an article of clothing, to edge or put a border on something.

(transitive): To surround something or someone in a confining way.

Etymology 3

Pronoun

hem

Obsolete form of 'em.

Anagrams

• Meh, meh

Source: Wiktionary


Hem, pron. Etym: [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h he. See He, They.]

Definition: Them [Obs.] Chaucer.

Hem, interj.

Definition: An onomatopoetic word used as an expression of hesitation, doubt, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm. Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. Shak.

Hem, n.

Definition: An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention. "His morning hems." Spectator.

Hem, v. i. [Hem, interj.]

Definition: To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. "Hem, and stroke thy beard." Shak.

Hem, n. Etym: [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. hƤmel, Prov. G. hammel hem of mire or dirt.]

1. The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen raveling.

2. Border; edge; margin. "Hem of the sea." Shak.

3. A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.

Hem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hemmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hemming.]

1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. Wordsworth.

2. To border; to edge All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe. Spenser. To hem about, around, or in, to inclose and confine; to surround; to environ. "With valiant squadrons round about to hem." Fairfax. "Hemmed in to be a spoil to tyranny." Daniel.

– To hem out, to shut out. "You can not hem me out of London." J. Webster.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

3 March 2025

STAND

(verb) hold oneā€™s ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright; ā€œI am standing my ground and wonā€™t give in!ā€


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest coffee press is 230 cm (7 ft 6 in) in height and 72 cm (2 ft 4 in) in diameter and was created by Salzillo Tea and Coffee (Spain) in Murcia, Spain, in February 2007. The cafetiĆØre consists of a stainless steel container, a filtering piston, and a superior lid.

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