Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)
"Hem! hem! however there will be a by-place for me behind the stove."1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 195:
A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)
his morning hemsJanuary 8, 1712', John Dryden, The Spectator No. 269
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hems | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)
Hem, and stroke thy beard.1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
“Sit down,” said the young man, gruffly. “He’ll be in soon.” I obeyed; and hemmed, and called the villain Juno, who deigned, at this second interview, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in token of owning my acquaintance.1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], chapter II, in Wuthering Heights: […], volume I, London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hemmed | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| hemmed | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| hems | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| hemming | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
hem and haw · hem up · hem and hah
ceb igham (to make a sound like "hem") · hu hümmög (to make a sound like "hem") · ru хмыкнуть (to make a sound like "hem") · is humma (to make a sound like "hem") · bg хъмкам (to make a sound like "hem") · fi hymistä (to make a sound like "hem")
From Middle English hem, hemm, in turn from Old English hem, of West Germanic origin, from Proto-West Germanic *hammjan from Proto-Germanic *hamjaną. Related to Middle High German hemmen (“to hem in”), Old Norse hemja (“to hem in, restrain”); outside of Germanic, to Armenian քամել (kʻamel, “to press, wring”), Russian ком (kom, “lump”). The verb is from Middle English hemmen, from Old English hemman, from Proto-Germanic *hamjaną, or alternatively derived from the noun.
Entombed upon the very hem o' th' seac. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hems | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
unhem · hem-line · hemless · touch the hem of someone's garment · hemstitch · kiss the hem of someone's garment · hemline · touch the hem of someone's robe · rehem · touch someone's hem · kiss someone's hem
ps لمن (rim or margin) · gl rodo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fa سجاف (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · grc ὄα (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · es repulgo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fi lieve (rim or margin) · es dobladillo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · hu szegély (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ar هُدْب (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · am ቅምቅማት (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fi reuna (rim or margin) · tl lilip (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sk lem (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · it margine (rim or margin) · bg край (rim or margin) · fi palle (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ca vora (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · nb fald (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · es bastilla (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ru кайма́ (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mk раб (rim or margin) · fr ourlet (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fi päärme (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · cmn 貼邊 /贴边 (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ro tiv (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · bg ръб (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · de Saum (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mi kurupatu (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · grc κράσπεδον (rim or margin) · eo orlo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · is brydding (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sk obruba (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mi whiringa (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · cs obruba (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ps لمن (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl bastilla (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · bg подгъв (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sv fåll (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · cs obruba (rim or margin) · nrf ouôlet (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl alorza (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ja 裾 (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sh rȗb (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sh ру̑б (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ru край (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl ganduxo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · yue 褶邊 /褶边 (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ru край (rim or margin) · yka kikim (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · eo eĝo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ar هُدُب (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mk раб (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mi tapa (rim or margin) · it lembo (rim or margin) · pt bainha (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · egy N35:Q3-N35:Q3-X1-S28 (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sh pòrub (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · pl obszycie (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · cs lem (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ar حَاشِيَة (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · it orlo (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · de Rand (rim or margin) · nl zoom (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl falso (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fa فرآویز (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · es hilván (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mi taku (rim or margin) · ru ободо́к (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gd fàitheam (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · nl marge (rim or margin) · fr marge (rim or margin) · gl marxe (rim or margin) · sa दशा (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · grc κράσπεδον (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl bordo (rim or margin) · cim dantza (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · it bordo (rim or margin) · ru кро́мка (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · it orlo (rim or margin) · gl xareta (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · pl obrębek (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · bg ръб (rim or margin) · gl beira (rim or margin) · mk крај (rim or margin) · mi remu (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · nrf ouôlîn (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fi palte (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · izh päärme (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · is faldur (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · el στρίφωμα (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sh по̀руб (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · sa दशा (rim or margin) · ang fnæd (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ang fnæs (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl vaíña (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · fi ääri (rim or margin) · ru подгибка (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · mk пораб (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · gl basta (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · grc λῶμα (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together) · ang fæs (border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together)
From Middle English hem, hemm, in turn from Old English hem, of West Germanic origin, from Proto-West Germanic *hammjan from Proto-Germanic *hamjaną. Related to Middle High German hemmen (“to hem in”), Old Norse hemja (“to hem in, restrain”); outside of Germanic, to Armenian քամել (kʻamel, “to press, wring”), Russian ком (kom, “lump”). The verb is from Middle English hemmen, from Old English hemman, from Proto-Germanic *hamjaną, or alternatively derived from the noun.
He’s in the saddle now. Fall in! Steady, the whole brigade! Hill’s at the ford, cut off — we’ll win his way out, ball and blade! What matter if our shoes are worn? What matter if our feet are torn? “Quick step! We’re with him before the morn!” That’s “Stonewall Jackson’s Way.” The sun’s bright lances rout the mists of morning, and by George! Here’s Longstreet struggling in the lists, hemmed in an ugly gorge. Pope and his Yankees, whipped before, “Bay’nets and grape!” hear Stonewall roar; “Charge, Stuart! Pay off Ashby’s score!” in “Stonewall Jackson’s Way.1862, John Williamson Palmer, Stonewall Jackson's Way
A small yard hemmed about by a tall hedge.
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hemmed | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| hemmed | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| hemming | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| hems | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
pt embainhar (to put hem on an article of clothing) · ru подши́ть (to make a hem) · pt cercar (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · es repulgar (to put hem on an article of clothing) · ru окаймля́ть (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · de säumen (to put hem on an article of clothing) · io bordizar (to put hem on an article of clothing) · fr ourler (to make a hem) · mi pākaka (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · fi päärmätä (to make a hem) · cs lemovat (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · is falda (to make a hem) · nl zomen (to put hem on an article of clothing) · ru окайми́ть (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · izh päärmätä (to put hem on an article of clothing) · ru подшива́ть (to put hem on an article of clothing) · cmn 縫邊 /缝边 (to make a hem) · bg подгъвам (to put hem on an article of clothing) · ru подшива́ть (to make a hem) · fi päärmätä (to put hem on an article of clothing) · bg поръбвам (to make a hem) · nrf toussôter (to put hem on an article of clothing) · nl omzomen (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · fi paltata (to put hem on an article of clothing) · mi awhe (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · bg подгъвам (to make a hem) · de säumen (to make a hem) · am ቀመቀመ (to make a hem) · fi paltata (to make a hem) · ru обшива́ть (to put hem on an article of clothing) · ru подши́ть (to put hem on an article of clothing) · hu szeg (to make a hem) · pt bainhar (to put hem on an article of clothing) · de einengen (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · nl inperken (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · fi ympäröidä (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · fr ourler (to put hem on an article of clothing) · is falda (to put hem on an article of clothing) · mi pākorokoro (to surround something or someone in a confining way) · ru обши́ть (to put hem on an article of clothing) · pt chulear (to put hem on an article of clothing)
From Middle English hem, from Old English heom (“them”, dative), originally a dative plural form but in Middle English coming to serve as an accusative plural as well. More at 'em.
For eyther of hem mayntened.1485, William Caxton, Paris and Vienne:
Tho to the greene wood they speeden hem all.1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “May. Ægloga Quinta.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], →OCLC:
‘What thinke you of this English, tel me I pray you.’ ‘It is a language that wyl do you good in England but passe Dover, it is woorth nothing.’ ‘Is it not used then in other countreyes?’ ‘No sir, with whom wyl you that they speake?’ ‘With English marchants.’ ‘English marchantes, when they are out of England, it liketh hem not, and they doo not speake it.1591, John Florio, Second Frutes to be gathered of twelve trees, of diverse but delightful tastes to the tongues of Italian and English:
And wente to the kinge and to the queene, and said to hem with a glad cheer.1481, William Caxton, The Historie of Reynart the Foxe:
Except we make hem such.1598, Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
They go forth on Holydays and gather hem by the seashore.1605 August (first performance), Geo[rge] Chapman, Ben Ionson, Ioh[n] Marston, Eastward Hoe. […], London: […] [George Eld] for William Aspley, published September 1605, →OCLC, (please specify the page):