HEMMING

HEM

hem

(verb) utter ‘hem’ or ‘ahem’

hem

(verb) fold over and sew together to provide with a hem; “hem my skirt”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Verb

hemming

present participle of hem

Noun

hemming (plural hemmings)

The act of saying "hem", in intermission or hesitation of speech.

Proper noun

Hemming

A surname.

Source: Wiktionary

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HEM

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. hämel, 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

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