Hermione --- fem. proper name, from Gk. Hermione, derived from Hermes (q.v.).
hermit --- 1130, from O.Fr. (h)eremite, from L.L. ermita, from Gk. eremites, lit. "person of the desert," from eremia "desert, solitude," from eremos "uninhabited." The hermit crab (1735) was so called for its solitary habits.
hernia --- c.1386, from L. hernia "a rupture," related to hira "intestine," from the same root as yarn.
hero --- 1387, "man of superhuman strength or courage," from L. heros "hero," from Gk. heros "demi-god" (a variant singular of which was heroe), originally "defender, protector," from PIE base *ser- "to watch over, protect" (cf. L. servare "to save, deliver, preserve, protect"). Sense of "chief male character in a play, story, etc." first recorded 1697. Fem. form heroine first attested 1659, from L. heroina, from Gk. heroine. First record of hero-worship is from 1774. Heroic verse (1617), decasyllabic iambic, is from It. Hero, the New York term for a sandwich elsewhere called submarine, grinder, poor boy (New Orleans), or hoagie (Philadelphia), is 1955, origin unknown, perhaps folk etymology of Gk. gyro, a type of sandwich.
heroin --- from Ger. Heroin, coined 1898 as trademark registered by Friedrich Bayer & Co. for their morphine substitute, traditionally from Gk. heros (see hero) because of the euphoric feeling the drug provides.
heron --- c.1120s, from O.Fr. hairon, from Frank. *haigiro (cf. O.H.G. heigaro "heron"), from P.Gmc. *khraigran-, from PIE *qriq-, perhaps imitative of its cry (cf. O.C.S. kriku "cry, scream," Lith. kryksti "to shriek"). O.E. cognate hraga did not survive into M.E.
herpes --- 1398, from L. herpes "a spreading skin eruption," from Gk. herpes, the name for the disease shingles, lit. "creeping," from herpein "to creep" (cognate with L. serpere "to creep").
herpetology --- study of reptiles, 1824, from Fr. herpétologie, coined from Gk. herpeton "reptile," lit. "creeping thing," from herpein "to creep" (see serpent) + logia "a speaking in a certain manner, study of."
Herr --- Ger. equivalent of Mr., 1653, originally "nobler, superior," from M.H.G. herre, from O.H.G. herro, comparative of her "noble." Hence also Herrenvolk "master race," in Nazi ideology, the concept of the Ger. people.
herring --- O.E. hering (Anglian), hæring (W. Saxon), from W.Gmc. *kheringgaz (cf. O.Fris. hereng, M.Du. herinc, Ger. Hering), of unknown origin, perhaps related to O.E. har "gray, hoar," from the color, or to O.H.G. heri "host, multitude" from its large schools. Herring-bone is first recorded 1659 as a type of stitch; 1905 as a type of cirrocumulus cloud. The Battle of the Herrings (Fr. baraille des harengs) is the popular name for the battle at Rouvrai, Feb. 12, 1492, fought in defense of a convoy of provisions, mostly herrings and other "lenten stuffe."
hers --- c.1300, hires, from her, a double possessive. Possessive pronouns in Mod. Eng. consist of the predicative (mine, thine, his, ours, yours, theirs) that come after the subject, and the attributive (my, thy, his, her, our, your, their) that come before it. In O.E. and early M.E., they were identical. To keep speech fluid, speakers began to affix an -n to the end of my and thy before words that began with vowels. This began late 13c. in the north of England, and by 1500 was standard. Then the predicative and attributive pronouns split, and the pronouns in that class usually took up -s (the regular affix of possession). But the non-standard speech of the Midlands and south of England extended -n throughout (hisn, hern, yourn), a habit attested from 14c. and more regular than the standard speech, which mixes -s and -n.
Hertfordshire --- O.E. Heortfordscir, from Herutford (731), lit. "ford frequented by harts."
Hertz --- unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second, 1928, in ref. to Ger. physicist Heinrich Hertz (1857-94).
hesitation --- 1622, from L. hæsitationem (nom. hæsitatio) "irresolution, uncertainty," from hæsitare "stick fast, stammer in speech, be undecided," freq. of hærere "stick, cling," from PIE *ghais-eyo (cf. Lith. gaistu "to delay, tarry"). Hesitate is attested from 1623, from L. hæsitatum, pp. of hæsitare.
Hesperus --- c.1374, poetic for "the evening star," from Gk. hesperos (aster) "western (star)." Hence also Hesperides (c.1590), from Gk., "daughters of the West," any of the nymphs, daughters of Hesperus, who guarded, with the aid of a dragon, the garden in which the golden apples grew, in the Isles of the Blest, at the western extremity of the earth.
Hessian --- 1677, from former Grand Duchy of Hesse, now a state in central Germany, its soldiers being hired out to fight for other countries, esp. the British during the American Revolution. Hessian fly (Cecidomyia destructor) was a destructive parasite the ravaged U.S. crops late 18c., so named in erroneous belief that it was carried into America by Hessian mercenaries.
Hestia --- goddess of the hearth, from Gk. hestia "hearth, house, home, family" (see vestal).
hetaera --- 1820, "mistress," from Mod.L., from Gk. hetaira "female companion," in Athens opposed to "lawful wife," and thus embracing everything from "concubine" to "courtesan;" fem. of hetairos "comrade, companion," from PIE *swet-aro-, suffixed form of base *s(w)e- (see idiom).
hetero- --- other, different, from comb. form of Gk. heteros "the other (of two), another, different;" first element meaning "one, at one, together;" the second cognate with the second element in L. al-ter, Goth. an-þar, O.E. o-ðer "other."
heterodox --- 1619, from Gk. heterodoxos, from heteros "the other" + doxa "opinion."
heterogeneous --- 1624, from Gk. heterogenes, from heteros "different" + genos "kind, gender, race stock" (see genus).
heterosexual (adj.) --- 1892, in C.G. Craddock's translation of Krafft-Ebbing's "Psychopathia Sexualis." The noun is recorded from 1920, but not in common use until 1960s. Colloquial shortening hetero is from 1933. Heterosexuality is first recorded 1900. Heterosexist "characteristic of discrimination against homosexuals" is first attested 1979.
heuristic --- serving to discover or find out, 1821, irregular formation from Gk. heuretikos "inventive," related to heuriskein "to find" (cognate with O.Ir. fuar "I have found"). Heuristics "study of heuristic methods," first recorded 1959.
hew --- O.E. heawan "to chop, hack, gash" (class VII strong verb; past tense heow, pp. heawen), earlier geheawan, from P.Gmc. *khawwanan (cf. O.N. hoggva, Du. houwen, Ger. hauen "to cut, strike, hew"), from PIE base *qau- "to strike, beat" (cf. O.C.S. kovo, Lith. kauju "to beat, forge;" L. cudere "to strike, beat;" M.Ir. cuad "beat, fight"). Weak pp. hewede appeared 14c. Seemingly contradictory sense of "hold fast, stick to" (in phrase hew to) developed from hew to the line "stick to a course," lit. "cut evenly with an axe or saw," first recorded 1891.
hex (v.) --- 1830, from Pennsylvania Ger. hexe "to practice witchcraft," from Ger. hexen "to hex," related to Hexe "witch," from M.H.G. hecse, hexse, from O.H.G. hagazussa (see hag). Noun meaning "magic spell" is first recorded 1909.
hexagon --- 1570, from L. hexagonum, from Gk. hexagonon, from hex "six" + gonia "angle" (see knee).
hexameter --- 1546, from L. hexameter, from Gk. hexametros, from hex "six" + metron "meter" (see meter (2)).
hey --- call to attract attention, c.1225, possibly a natural expression (cf. Roman eho, Gk. eia, Ger. hei).
heyday --- c.1590, alteration of heyda (1526), exclamation of playfulness or surprise, something like Mod.Eng. hurrah, apparently an extended form of M.E. interjection hey, hei. Modern sense of "stage of greatest vigor" first recorded 1751, which altered the spelling on model of day, with which this word apparently has no etymological connection.
Hezbollah --- extremist Shiite group active in Lebanon, 1960, from Pers. hezbollah, Arabic hizbullah, lit. "Party of God," from hezb/hizb "party" + allah "God." An adherent is a Hezbollahi.
Hezekiah --- masc. proper name, biblical, from Heb. Hizqiyya, lit. "the Lord has strengthened," from hazaq "he was strong, he strengthened" + jah, short for yaweh.
hi --- greeting, 1862, Amer.Eng. (first recorded reference is to speech of a Kansas Indian), originally to attract attention, probably a variant of M.E. hy, hey (c.1475) also an exclamation to call attention. Extended form hiya attested from 1940.
hiatus --- 1563, "break or opening in a material object," from L. hiatus "opening, rupture, gap," from hiare "to gape, stand open." Sense of "gap or interruption in events, etc." is first recorded 1613.
hibachi --- 1863, from Japanese hibachi "firepot," from hi "fire" + hachi "bowl, pot."
hibernation --- 1664, from L. hibernationem (nom. hibernatio "the action of passing the winter," from hibernare "to winter," from hiems "winter," from PIE *gheim- "snow, winter" (cf. Skt. heman "in winter," Hittite gimmanza, Gk. kheima, O.C.S. zima, Lith. ziema "winter"). Hibernate is first attested 1802.
Hibernia --- Roman name for Ireland, from O.Celt. *Iveriu "Ireland" (see Irish). Form altered in L. as though it meant "land of winter" (see hibernation).
hibiscus --- 1706, from L. hibiscum "marshmallow plant," perhaps from Gaulish.
hic jacet --- L., "here lies," commonly the first words of L. epitaphs.
hiccup --- 1580, hickop, earlier hicket, hyckock, considered imitative of the sound of hiccupping (cf. Fr. hoquet, Dan. hikke, etc.); modern spelling first recorded 1788; hiccough (1626) is by mistaken association with cough. Replaced O.E. ælfsogoða, so called because hiccups were thought to be caused by elves.
hick --- 1376, nickname of Richard. Meaning "awkward provincial person" is first recorded 1565 (cf. rube). The adj. is first recorded 1920, in Sinclair Lewis' "Main Street": "He graduated from a hick college in Pennsylvania." "A hick town is one where there is no place to go where you shouldn't be." [Robert Quillen, 1933]
hickie --- mark on skin made by biting or sucking during foreplay or sex, 1956; earlier "pimple, skin lesion" (c.1915) or "any unspecified object" (1909, cf. doohickey, still used in this sense).
hickory --- 1671, Amer.Eng., from Algonquian (perhaps Powhatan), shortening of pockerchicory or a similar name for this species of walnut. Old Hickory as the nickname of U.S. politician Andrew Jackson is first recorded 1827.
hidalgo --- 1594, from Sp., from O.Sp. fidalgo, shortened from filho de algo "son (L. filus) of someone (L. aliquis)," perhaps an imitation of Ar. ibn-nas "son of people," a complimentary title.
hide (n.1) --- O.E. hyd, from P.Gmc. *khudiz (cf. O.N. huð, O.Fris. hed, M.Du. huut, Ger. Haut "skin"), related to O.E. verb hydan "to hide," the common notion being of "covering," from PIE base *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (cf. Skt. kostha "enclosing wall," skunati "covers;" Arm. ciw "roof;" L. cutis "skin," scutum "shield," ob-scurus "dark;" Gk. kytos "a hollow, vessel," keutho "to cover, to hide," skynia "eyebrows;" Rus. kishka "gut," lit. "sheath;" Lith. kiautas "husk," kutis "stall;" O.N. sky "cloud;" M.H.G. hode "scrotum;" O.H.G. scura, Ger. Scheuer "barn;" Welsh cuddio "to hide").
hide (n.2) --- measure of land (obsolete), O.E. hid, earlier higid, from hiw- "family" (cf. hiwan "household," hiwo "a husband, master of a household"), from PIE *keiwo- (cf. L. civis "citizen"). The notion was of "amount of land needed to feed one free family and dependents," usually 100 or 120 acres, but the amount could be as little as 60, depending on the quality of the land.
hide (v.) --- O.E. hydan, from W.Gmc. *khuthjanan, from PIE *keudh- (cf. Gk. keuthein "to hide, conceal"), from base *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (see hide (n.1)). Past participle hidden is a M.E. formation (O.E. had gehydd "hidden") on the model of ride/ridden, etc. Hide and seek (1672) replaced earlier all hid (1588); while hide-out "a hiding place" is Amer.Eng., first attested 1885.
hidebound --- 1559, from hide (n.1) + past tense of bind. Original ref. is to emaciated cattle with skin sticking closely to backbones and ribs; metaphoric sense of "restricted by narrow attitudes" is first recorded 1603.
hideous --- c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. hidous, from O.Fr. hideus, earlier hisdos (11c.), from hisda "horror, fear," perhaps of Gmc. origin.
hie --- O.E. higian "strive, hasten," originally "to be intent on," from P.Gmc. *khig- (cf. M.Du. higen "to pant," M.L.G. hichen, Ger. heichen).
hierarchy --- c.1343, from O.Fr. ierarchie, from M.L. hierarchia "ranked division of angels" (in the system of Dionysius the Areopagite), from Gk. hierarchia "rule of a high priest," from hierarches "high priest, leader of sacred rites," from ta hiera "the sacred rites" (neut. pl. of hieros "sacred") + archein "to lead, rule." Sense of "ranked organization of persons or things" first recorded 1619, initially of clergy, probably infl. by higher.
hieratic --- 1656 (implied in hieratical), from Gk. hieratikos, from hierateia "priesthood," from hierasthai "be a priest," from hiereus "priest," from hieros "sacred."
hieroglyphic --- 1585, from L.L. hieroglyphicus, from Gk. hieroglyphikos, from hieros "sacred" + glyphe "carving," from glyphein "to carve." Plutarch began the custom of using the adj. (ta hieroglyphika) as a noun.
hierophant --- expounder of sacred mysteries, 1677, from L.L. hierophantes, from Gk. hieros "sacred" + phainein "to reveal, bring to light."
hi-fi --- 1950, abbreviation of high fidelity (1934).
higgledy-piggledy --- 1598, probably formed from pig and the animal's suggestions of mess and disorder.
high --- O.E. heh (Anglian), heah (W.Saxon) "of great height, lofty, tall, exalted," from P.Gmc. *kaukhaz (cf. O.S. hoh, O.N. har, Dan. høi, Swed. hög, O.Fris. hach, Du. hoog, O.H.G. hoh, Ger. hoch, Goth. hauhs "high;" also Ger. Hügel "hill," O.N. haugr "mound"), from PIE *koukos (cf. Lith. kaukara "hill"). Spelling with -gh represents a final guttural sound, lost since 14c. Meaning "euphoric or exhilarated from alcohol" is first attested 1627, of drugs, first recorded 1932. Sense of "proud, haughty, supercilious" (c.1205) is reflected in high hand (1382) and high horse (see horse). High seas first attested c.1380, with sense (also found in the L. cognate) of "deep" as well as "tall" (cf. also O.Pers. baršan "height, depth"). High-class (adj.) is from 1864. To high-tail "move quickly" is slang attested by 1890, from cattle ranches (animals fleeing with elevated tails). Highlands "mountainous district of Scotland" first recorded c.1425. High-roller "extravagant spender" is from 1881. Your Highness as a form of address to Eng. royalty is attested from 1402.
highball --- type of alcoholic drink, 1898, probably from ball "drink of whiskey," high because it is served in a tall glass.
highboy --- tall chest of drawers, 1891, Amer.Eng. (cf. tallboy); the second element is from Fr. bois "wood" (see bush).
highbrow (n.) --- person of superior intellect and taste, 1902, back-formation from high-browed (adj.), which is attested from 1891, from high + brow (cf. also lowbrow under low (adj.)).
high-falutin' --- 1848, U.S. slang, possibly from high-flying, or flown, or even flute.
high-five --- originally U.S. basketball slang, 1980 as a noun, 1981 as a verb, though the greeting itself seems to be older (e.g. Dick Shawn in "The Producers," 1968).
highlight --- 1658, originally of paintings, "the brightest part of a subject;" fig. sense of "outstanding feature or characteristic" is from 1855; the verb is from 1934.
hight (v.) --- named, called (archaic), M.E. highte, from O.E. hatte "I am called" (passive of hatan "to call, name, command") merged with heht "called," active past tense of the same verb. Hatte was the only survival in O.E. of the old Gmc. synthetic passive tense. It is related to O.N. heita, Du. heten, Ger. heißen, Goth. haitan "to call, be called, command" (see cite).
highway --- O.E. heiweg "main road from one town to another;" highwayman "one who travels the highways with intent to rob people" (often on horseback and thus contrasted to a footpad) is from 1649. High street (O.E. heahstræte) was the word before 17c. applied to highways and main roads, whether in the country or town, especially one of the Roman roads. In more recent usage, it generally is the proper name of the street of a town which is built upon a highway and was the principal street of the place.
hijack --- 1923, Amer.Eng., from high(way) + jacker "one who holds up." Originally "to rob (a bootlegger, smuggler, etc.) in transit;" sense of "seizing an aircraft in flight" is 1968 (also in 1961 variant skyjack), extended 1970s to any form of public transportation.
hi-jinks --- 1861, "boisterous capers," from name of a dice game played for drinks (1690).
hike --- 1809, Eng. dial. hyke "to walk vigorously," of unknown origin. The noun is from 1865. Sense of "pull up" (as pants) first recorded 1873 in Amer.Eng., and may be a variant of hitch; extended sense of "raise" (as wages) is 1867.
hilarity --- 1440, from L. hilaritas (gen. hilaritatis) "cheerfulness, gaiety," from hilaris "cheerful, gay," from Gk. hilaros, related to hilaos "graceful, kindly." In ancient Rome, Hilaria (neut. pl. of hilaris) were a class of holidays, times of pomp and rejoicing; there were public ones in honor of Cybele at the spring equinoxes as well as private ones on the day of a marriage or a son's birth.
Hilary --- masc. proper name, from L.L. Hilarius, lit. "cheerful," from L. hilaris (see hilarity). The name was more popular in France than in England. The woman's name (M.E. Hillaria) seems to be merged from Eulalia, name of the patron saint of Barcelona, a Latinization of Gk. eulalos "sweetly speaking." The Hilary sessions of British High Court and universities (1577) are from St. Hilarius, Bishop of Poitiers, obit. C.E. 368, whose feast day is Jan. 13.
Hilda --- fem. proper name, from Ger., lit. "battle-maid," from fem. of O.H.G. hild "war, battle." The same element is in the Ger.-derived names Hildebrand (lit. "battle-sword") and Hildegard ("protecting battle-maid").
hill --- O.E. hyll, from P.Gmc. *khulnis (cf. M.Du. hille, Low Ger. hull "hill," O.N. hallr "stone," Goth. hallus "rock," O.N. holmr "islet in a bay," O.E. holm "rising land, island"), from PIE base *kel- "to rise, be elevated, to be prominent" (cf. Skt. kutam "top, skull;" L. collis "hill," columna "projecting object," culmen "top, summit," cellere "raise," celsus "high;" Gk. kolonos "hill," kolophon "summit;" Lith. kalnas "mountain," kalnelis "hill," kelti "raise"). Formerly including mountains, now usually confined to heights under 2,000 feet. Hillock (1382) preserves M.E. dim. suffix -oc. Phrase over the hill "past one's prime" is first recorded 1950. "In Great Britain heights under 2,000 feet are generally called hills; 'mountain' being confined to the greater elevations of the Lake District, of North Wales, and of the Scottish Highlands; but, in India, ranges of 5,000 and even 10,000 feet are commonly called 'hills,' in contrast with the Himalaya Mountains, many peaks of which rise beyond 20,000 feet." [OED]
hillbilly --- southern Appalachian resident, c.1900, from hill + masc. proper name Billy/Billie. As a type of folk music, first attested 1924. "In short, a Hill-Billie is a free and untrammelled white citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires of his revolver as the fancy takes him." ["New York Journal," April 23, 1900]
Hillel --- masc. proper name, from Heb., lit. "he praised."
hilt --- O.E. hilt, from P.Gmc. *kheltiz (cf. O.N. hjalt, O.H.G. helza "hilt," O.S. helta "oar handle"), of uncertain origin. Formerly also used in pl. in same sense as singular.
him --- O.E. him, originally dative masc. and neut. of he; beginning 10c. it replaced hine as masc. accusative, a regional process completed by 15c. The dative roots of the -m ending are retained in Ger. (ihm) and Du. (hem). Hine persists, barely, as the southern England dialectal 'un, 'n for "him."
Himalaya --- from Skt. himalayah, lit. "abode of snow," from hima "snow" (see hibernation) + alaya "abode."
hind (adj.) --- c.1300, perhaps a back-formation from O.E. behindan "back, behind," used as adv. and prep., or from O.E. hindan (adv.) "from behind," words of unknown origin, cognate with Goth. hindan (prep.) "on that side of, beyond, behind;" Ger. hinten "behind." Possibly infl. by M.E. hiner (adv.) "back, rear." Hindmost is from 1375. Hindsight is recorded 1851 as "back-sight of a rifle," 1883 as "perception after the event."
hind (n.) --- female deer, O.E. hind, from P.Gmc. *khindo (cf. O.N. hind, Du. hinde, O.H.G. hinta, Ger. Hinde "hind") perhaps from PIE *kemti-, from base *kem- "hornless" (cf. Gk. kemas, Lith. smulas "young deer, gazelle").
hinder (adj.) --- rear, O.E. hinder (adv.), possibly comparative of hind (adj.).
hinder (v.) --- O.E. hindrian "to harm, injure, impair," from P.Gmc. *khinderojanan, from a root meaning "on that side of, behind" (cf. hind (adj.)); thus the ground sense is "to put or keep back." Cognate of O.N. hindra, Du. hinderen, Ger. hindern "to keep back."
hindrance --- 1436, from hindren, from same root as hinder (v.), on model of Fr.-derived words such as resistance.
Hindu --- 1662, from Pers. Hindu (adj. & noun) "Indian," from Hind "India," from Skt. sindhu "river," specifically the Indus; hence "region of the Indus," gradually extended across northern India. Hinduism, blanket term for "polytheism of India," is from 1829. The Hindu Kush mountain range means lit. "Indian killer," and was said to have been originally the name given by the Persians to a pass where their Indian slaves had perished in winter.
hinge --- c.1300, "the axis of the earth;" 1380 as "movable joint of a gate or door," not found in O.E., cognate with M.Du. henghe "hook, handle," M.L.G. henge "hinge;" all derived from the root of the verb hang on notion of the thing from which a door hangs.
hinny --- offspring of a stallion and a she-ass, 1688, from L. hinnus, from Gk. innos, ginnos, of unknown origin.
hint --- 1604, from obsolete hent, from O.E. hentan "to seize," from P.Gmc. *khantijanan (cf. Goth. hinþan "to seize"), related to hunt. Modern sense and spelling first attested in Shakespeare.
hinterland --- 1890, from Ger. Hinterland, from hinter "behind" + Land "land."
hip (adj.) --- informed, 1904, apparently originally in black slang, probably a variant of hep, with which it is identical in sense, though it is recorded four years earlier. Hip-hop music style first recorded 1982.
hip (interjection) --- exclamation used to introduce a united cheer (cf. hip-hip-hurrah), 1827, earlier hep, cf. Ger. hepp, to animals a cry to attack, to mobs a cry to attack Jews (see hep (2)); perhaps a natural sound (cf. L. eho, heus).
hip (n1.) --- part of the body where pelvis and thigh join, O.E. hype, from P.Gmc. *khupiz (cf. Du. heup, Ger. Hüfte, Goth. hups "hip"), from PIE *qeub- "to bend." Hipsters "pants that ride on the hips" first attested 1962; hip-huggers in this sense first recorded 1967.
hip (n2.) --- seed pod (especially of wild rose), O.E. heope, hiope, from P.Gmc. *khiup- (cf. dial. Norw. hjupa, O.H.G. hiafo, Ger. hiefe, O.E. hiopa "briar, bramble").
hippie --- c.1965, Amer.Eng. (Haight-Ashbury slang), from earlier hippie, 1953, usually a disparaging variant of hipster (1941) "person who is keenly aware of the new and stylish," from hip "up-to-date" (see hip (adj.)).
Hippocratic oath --- 1747, in the spirit of Hippocrates (c.460-377 B.C.E.), but not written by him.
hippodrome --- 1585, from Fr. hippodrome, from L. hippodromos "race course," from Gk. hippodromos, from hippos "horse" + dromos "course."
hippogriff --- 1656, from Fr. hippogriffe (16c.), from It. ippogrifo, from Gk. hippos "horse" + It. grifo, from L.L. gryphus "griffin" (see griffin). A creature part griffin, but with body and hind parts in the form of a horse.
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