HEM
hem
(noun) the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down; āthe hem of her dress was stainedā; ālet down the hemā; āhe stitched weights into the curtainās hemā; āit 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 āhemā or āahemā
hem
(verb) fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; āhem 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