A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

horizon --- c.1374, from O.Fr. orizon (14c.), earlier orizonte (13c.), from L. horizontem (nom. horizon), from Gk. horizon kyklos "bounding circle," from horizein "bound, limit, divide, separate," from horos "boundary." The h- was restored 17c. in imitation of Latin. Horizontal (1555) originally meant "relating to or near the horizon," later (1638) parallel to it, "flat."

hormone --- 1905, from Gk. hormon "that which sets in motion," prp. of horman "impel, urge on," from horme "onset, impulse." Used by Hippocrates to denote a vital principle; modern meaning coined by Eng. physiologist Ernest Henry Starling (1866-1927). Jung used horme (1915) in ref. to hypothetical mental energy that drives unconscious activities and instincts.

horn --- O.E. horn "horn of an animal," also "wind instrument" (originally made from animal horns), from P.Gmc. *khurnaz (cf. Ger. Horn, Du. horen, Goth. haurn), from PIE *ker- "uppermost part of the body, head, horn, top, summit" (cf. Gk. karnon, L. cornu, Skt. srngam "horn"). Reference to car horns is first recorded 1901. A hornpipe was originally a hornepype (c.1400), a musical instrument with bell and mouthpiece made of horn, later (c.1485) "dance associated with sailors" (originally performed to music from such an instrument). To horn in "intrude" is attested by 1880, originally cowboy slang, on the notion of buffalo behavior.

hornet --- O.E. hyrnetu, hurnitu "large wasp, beetle," probably from P.Gmc. base *khurz-nut- (cf. Du. horzel "hornet"), from PIE imitative (buzzing) root *krs-, as preserved in O.C.S. srusa, Lith. szirszu "wasp." On this theory, the Eng. word (as well as Ger. Hornisse) was altered by influence of horn, to suggest either "horner" (from the sting) or "horn-blower" (from the buzz). Cf. also O.S. hornobero "hornet," lit. "trumpeter."

hornswoggle --- to cheat, 1829, probably a fanciful formation.

horny --- lustful, sexually aroused, definitely in use 1889, perhaps attested as early as 1863; from late 18c. slang expression to have the horn, suggestive of male sexual excitement (but eventually applied to women as well); see horn.

horoscope --- c.1050, horoscopus, from L.; the modern form is considered to be a 16c. reborrowing from M.Fr. horoscope, from L. horoscopus, from Gk. horoskopos "nativity, horoscope," also "one who casts a horoscope," from hora "hour" (see year) + skopos "watching," in reference to the hour of one's birth.

horrendous --- 1659, from L. horrendus "to be shuddered at," gerundive of horrere "to bristle with fear, shudder" (see horror).

horrible --- 1303, from O.Fr. horrible, from L. horribilis, from horrere "to bristle with fear, shudder" (see horror).

horrid --- 1410, "hairy, shaggy, bristling," from L. horridus "bristly, prickly, rough, horrid, frightful," from horrere "to bristle with fear, shudder" (see horror). Sense weakened 17c. to "unpleasant, offensive."

horrific --- causing horror, 1653, from L. horrificus "terrible, dreadful," lit. "making the hair stand on end," from horrere "to bristle, to stand on end" (see horror) + -ficus, from stem of facere "to make, do" (see factitious).

horror --- c.1375, from O.Fr. horreur, from L. horror "bristling, roughness, rudeness, shaking, trembling," from horrere "to bristle with fear, shudder," from PIE base *ghers- "to bristle" (cf. Skt. harsate "bristles," Avestan zarshayamna- "ruffling one's feathers," L. eris (gen.) "hedgehog," Welsh garw "rough"). As a genre in film, 1936. Chamber of horrors originally (1849) was a gallery of notorious criminals in Madame Tussaud's wax exhibition.

hors de combat --- 1757, from Fr., lit. "out of combat."

hors d'oeuvre --- 1714, "out of the ordinary," from Fr. hors d'oeuvre, "outside the ordinary courses (of a meal)," lit. "apart from the main work," from hors, var. of fors "outside" (from L. fortis) + de "from" + oeuvre "work," from L. opera, (see opus). Meaning "extra dish set out before a meal or between courses" attested in Eng. from 1742.

horse --- O.E. hors, from P.Gmc. *khursa- (cf. O.N. hross, O.Fris. hors, M.Du. ors, Du. ros, O.H.G. hros, Ger. Roß "horse"), of unknown origin, connected by some with PIE base *kurs-, source of L. currere "to run" (see current). Replaced O.E. eoh, from PIE *ekwo- "horse" (cf. Gk. hippos, L. equus, O.Ir. ech, Goth. aihwa-, Skt. açva-, all meaning "horse"). In many other languages, as in O.E., this root has been lost in favor of synonyms, probably via superstitious taboo on uttering the name of an animal so important in I.E. religion. Used since at least 1391 of various devices or appliances which suggest a horse (e.g. sawhorse). To ride a horse that was foaled of an acorn (1678) was through early 19c. a way to say "be hanged from the gallows." Slang for heroin is first attested 1950. Horseplay is from 1589. The belief that finding a horseshoe by chance is lucky is attested from late 14c. Horse latitudes first attested 1777, the name of unknown origin, despite much speculation. Dead horse as a figure for "something that has ceased to be useful" is attested from 1638. High horse originally (c.1380) was "war horse, charger;" fig. sense in mount (one's) high horse "affect airs of superiority" is from 1782. The horse's mouth as a source of reliable information is from 1928, perhaps from the fact that a horse's age can be determined accurately by looking at its teeth. To swap horses while crossing the river (a bad idea) is first attested 1864 in writings of Abraham Lincoln. Horse sense is 1870, Amer.Eng. colloquial, probably from the same association of "strong, large, coarse" found in horseradish. Horse and buggy meaning "old-fashioned" is recorded from 1926 slang, originally in ref. to a "young lady out of date, with long hair." The proverbial gift horse was earlier given horse: "No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth." [Heywood, 1546] The modern form perhaps traces to Butler's "Hudibras" (1663), where the tight iambic tetrameter required a shorter phrase: He ne'er consider'd it, as loth To look a Gift-horse in the mouth.

horse-chestnut --- 1597, from horse + chestnut. A tree probably native to Asia, introduced in England c.1550; the name also was extended to similar N.Amer. species such as the buckeye. Said to have been so called because it was food for horses. The nut resembles that of the edible chestnut, but is bitter to the taste.

horsefeathers --- nonsense, 1928, said to have been coined by U.S. cartoonist Billy De Beck; perhaps a variant of horseshit "nonsense," though the latter is attested only from 1940s.

horsepower --- 1806, from horse + power, established by Watt as the power needed to lift 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute, which is actually about 1.5 times the power of a strong horse.

horseradish --- 1597, Cochlearia armoricia, the common name preserves the once-common figurative sense of horse as "strong, large, coarse" (e.g. in obs. horse mushroom, horse parsley, etc.).

hortatory --- 1576, from L.L. hortatorius "encouraging, cheering," from hortatus, pp. of hortari "exhort, encourage," intens. of horiri "urge, incite, encourage," from PIE base *gher- "to like, want" (cf. O.E. giernan "to strive, desire, yearn;" Goth. gairnei "desire;" Gk. khresthai "to lack, want, use," kharis "grace, favor," khairein "to rejoice, delight in;" Skt. haryati "finds pleasure, likes," harsate "is aroused;" Avestan zara "effort, aim;" Rus. zhariti "awake desire, charm").

horticulture --- 1678, coined as if from L. *horticultura "cultivation of a garden," from hortus "garden" (see yard (1)) + cultura (see culture); probably on model of agriculture. Famously punned upon by Dorothy Parker.

Horus --- 1851, Egyptian hawk-headed god, from L. Horus, from Egyptian Hor, lit. "the high-flying one."

hosanna --- O.E. osanna, from Heb. hosha'na, probably a shortening of hoshi'ah-nna "save, we pray" (cf. Psalms cxviii.25), from imper. of y-sh- (cf. yeshua "salvation, deliverance, welfare") + emphatic particle -na. Originally an appeal for deliverance; used in Christian Church as an ascription of praise, because when Jesus entered Jerusalem this was shouted by Galilean pilgrims in recognition of his messiahhood (Matt. xxi.9, 15, etc.).

hose --- c.1100, hosa "covering for the leg," from P.Gmc. *khusan (cf. O.N. hosa, M.H.G. hose "covering for the leg," Ger. Hose "trousers"), lit. "covering," from PIE *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (see hide (n.1)). O.Fr. hose is of Gmc. origin. Sense of "flexible rubber tube for liquid" is first attested 1497. Hosiery is first recorded 1790, from M.E. hosier "hose-maker" (1403). The verb meaning "to water down with a hose" is from 1889.

Hosea --- masc. proper name, from Heb. Hoshea, lit. "salvation," from stem y-sh- "to save."

hospice --- 1818, "rest house for travelers," from Fr. hospice, from L. hospitum "guest house, hospitality," from hospes (gen. hospitis) "guest, host" (see host (1)). Sense of "home for the aged and terminally ill " is from 1893; hospice movement first attested 1979.

hospitable --- 1570, from M.Fr. hospitable, from L. hospitari "be a guest," from hospes (gen. hospitis) "guest" (see host (1)).

hospital --- 1242, "shelter for the needy," from O.Fr. hospital "hostel," from L.L. hospitale "guest-house, inn," neut. of L. adj. hospitalis "of a guest or host," from hospes (gen. hospitis); see host (1). Later "charitable institution to house and maintain the needy" (1418); sense of "institution for sick people" is first recorded 1549. Hospitalize is from 1901, "Freq(uently) commented on as an unhappy formation" [OED].

hospitality --- 1375, "act of being hospitable," from O.Fr. hospitalité, from L. hospitalitem (gen. hospitalitas) "friendliness to guests," from hospes (gen. hospitis) "guest" (see host (1)).

hoss --- 1815, representing U.S. dialectal variant pronunciation of horse.

host (1) --- person who receives guests, c.1290, from O.Fr. hoste "guest, host" (12c.), from L. hospitem (nom. hospes) "guest, host," lit. "lord of strangers," from PIE *ghostis- "stranger" (cf. O.C.S. gospodi "lord, master," Goth. gasts, O.E. gæst "guest"). The biological sense of "animal or plant having a parasite" is from 1857. The verb is 1421, from the noun. Hostess is attested from c.1290.

host (2) --- multitude 1265, from O.Fr. host "army" (10c.), from M.L. hostis "army, war-like expedition," from L. hostis "enemy, stranger," from the same root as host (1). Replaced O.E. here, and has in turn been largely superseded by army. The generalized meaning of "large number" is first attested 1613.

host (3) --- body of Christ, consecrated bread, c.1303, from L. hostia "sacrifice," also "the animal sacrificed," applied in Church L. to Christ; probably ult. related to host (1) in its root sense of "stranger, enemy."

hosta --- 1828, plant genus of the lily family, coined 1812 in Mod.L. for Austrian physician and botanist Nicolaus Thomas Host (1761-1834).

hostage --- c.1275, from O.Fr. hostage "person given as security or hostage," either from hoste "guest" (see host (1)) via notion of "a lodger held by a landlord as security," or from L.L. obsidanus "condition of being held as security," from obses "hostage," from ob- "before" + base of sedere "to sit." Modern political/terrorism sense is from 1970s.

hostel --- 1232, from O.Fr. hostel (Fr. hôtel), from M.L. hospitale "inn, large house" (see hospital). Obsolete after 16c., revived 1808, along with hostelry (M.E. hostelrie) by Sir Walter Scott.

hostility --- 1531, from M.Fr. hostilité "enmity," from L.L. hostilitatem (nom. hostilitas) "enmity," from L. hostilis, from hostis "enemy." Hostile (adj.) is 1487, from M.Fr. hostile "of or belonging to an enemy," from L. hostilis. As a noun meaning "enemy" it originally (1838) was used in ref. to N.Amer. Indians opposed to whites.

hostler --- c.1386, "one who tends to horses at an inn," also, occasionally, "innkeeper," from Anglo-Fr. hostiler, from M.L. hostilarius "the monk who entertains guests at a monastery," from hospitale "inn" (see hospital). See also ostler.

hot --- O.E. hat "hot, opposite of cold," also "fervent, fierce," from P.Gmc. *haitoz (cf. O.Fris. het, O.N. heitr, Du. heet, Ger. heiß "hot," Goth. heito "heat of a fever"), from PIE base *qai- (cf. Lith. kaistu "to grow hot"), the same root as that of heat. Taste sense of "pungent, acrid, biting" is from 1548. Sense of "exciting, remarkable, very good" is 1895; that of "stolen" is first recorded 1925 (originally with overtones of "easily identified and difficult to dispose of"); that of "radioactive" is from 1942. Hot air "unsubstantiated statements, boastful talk" is from 1900. Hot potato in figurative sense is from 1846. Hot-blooded "passionate" (1598) is a relic of medieval physiology theory. The association of hot with sexuality dates back to 1500. Hot rod first recorded 1945 in Amer.Eng.; hot water "trouble" is from 1537. The hot and cold in hide-and-seek or guessing games are from hunting (1648), with notion of tracking a scent. Hot spot "night club" first recorded 1931. Hotshot "important person" is from 1933; it earlier meant "fast train" (1925).

hot dog --- sausage on a split roll, c.1890, popularized by cartoonist T.A. Dorgan. It is said to echo a 19c. suspicion (occasionally justified) that sausages contained dog meat. Meaning "someone particularly skilled or excellent" (with overtones of showing off) is from 1896. Connection between the two senses is unclear. Hot dog! as an exclamation of approval was in use by 1906.

hot pants --- short-shorts, 1970, probably influenced by earlier sense of "sexual arousal" (1927).

hotbed --- 1626, from hot + bed, originally "bed of earth heated by fermenting manure for forcing growing plants;" generalized sense of "place that fosters rapid growth" is from 1768.

Hotchkiss --- 1878, type of gun named for its inventor, Benjamin B. Hotchkiss (1826-85). In Japanese, the word for "stapler" is hotchikisu after the E. H. Hotchkiss Company of Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S., early and prominent manufacturer of staplers (incorporated 1895, name from 1897), which apparently was run by relatives of the gun inventor. The surname (attested from 1470 as Hochekys) is a variant of Hodgkin.

hotel --- 1644, "public official residence," from Fr. hôtel, from O.Fr. hostel "a lodging," from M.L. hospitale "inn" (see hostel). Modern sense of "an inn of the better sort" is first recorded 1765. Hotelier is a 1905 borrowing of Fr. hôtelier "hotelkeeper."

hothead --- short-tempered person, 1660, from hot + head; Johnson's dictionary also lists hotmouthed "headstrong, ungovernable."

hothouse --- 1451, "bath house," from hot + house. In 17c. a euphemism for "brothel" (cf. massage parlor); the meaning "glass-roofed structure for raising plants" is from 1749.

Hottentot --- 1677, from S.African Du., said to mean "stammerer," it is from hot en tot "hot and tot," nonsense words imitative of the clicking, jerking Khoisan speech.

houdini --- escape artist or other ingenious person, 1923, from Harry Houdini, professional name of U.S. escapist Erich Weiss (1874-1926).

hound --- O.E. hund "dog," from P.Gmc. *khundas (cf. Ger. Hund, O.N. hundr, Goth. hunds), from PIE *kuntos, dental enlargement of base *kwon- "dog" (see canine). Meaning narrowed 12c. to "dog used for hunting." The verb sense of "urge on, incite" is first attested 1528, that of "pursue relentlessly" is first recorded 1605.

hour --- c.1250, from O.Fr. hore "one-twelfth of a day" (sunrise to sunset), from L. hora "hour, time, season," from Gk. hora "any limited time," used of day, hour, season, year; cognate O.E. gear "year" (see year). Greeks borrowed the notion of dividing the day into hours from the Babylonians, but the Babylonian hour was one-twelfth of the whole day and thus twice as long as a modern hour. The Greeks divided only the period of light into 12 parts, and the Romans adopted the system from them. Night was not similarly divided till much later, and thus the period of time covered by an hour varied according to the season. In 16c. distinction sometimes was made between temporary (unequal) hours and sidereal (equal) ones. The h- has persisted in this word despite not being pronounced since Roman times. Replaced O.E. tid, lit. "time," and stund "period of time." Hourglass is from 1515.

houri --- nymph of Muslim paradise, 1737, from Fr. houri (1654), from Pers. huri "nymph in Paradise," from Ar. haura "to be beautifully dark-eyed," like a gazelle.

house --- O.E. hus "dwelling, shelter, house," from P.Gmc. *khusan (cf. O.N., O.Fris. hus, Du. huis, Ger. Haus), of unknown origin, perhaps connected to the root of hide (v.). In Goth. only in gudhus "temple," lit. "god-house;" the usual word for "house" in Goth. being razn. Meaning "family, including ancestors and descendants, especially if noble" is from c.1000. The legislative sense (1541) is transferred from the building in which the body meets. Meaning "audience in a theater" is from 1921. Zodiac sense is first attested c.1391. The verb meaning "give shelter to" is O.E. husian (cognate with Ger. hausen, Du. huizen). Household is first recorded 1382; for housewife (c.1225) see hussy. To play house is from 1871; as suggestive of "have sex, shack up," 1968. House arrest first attested 1936; housewarming is from 1577; houseboat is 1790. On the house "free" is from 1889. "And the Prophet Isaiah the sonne of Amos came to him, and saide vnto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not liue." [2 Kings xx.1, version of 1611]

housebreak --- 1820, "to break into a house criminally;" sense of "to train a domestic animal to be clean in the house" is from 1900.

housekeeper --- c.1440, "householder;" sense of "female head domestic servant of a house" is from 1607.

housing (1) --- buildings, lodgings, c.1300, husing, from the root of house.

housing (2) --- ornamental covering, 1312, houce "covering for the back and flanks of a horse," from M.L. hultia, from Frank. *khulfti (cf. M.Du. hulfte "pocket for bow and arrow," M.H.G. hulft "covering"). Sense of "case or enclosure for machine or part" is first recorded 1882.

hovel --- 1358, "roofed passage, vent for smoke," later "shed for animals" (1435), of unknown origin. Meaning "shed for human habitation; rude or miserable cabin" is from 1625. It also sometimes meant "canopied niche for a statue or image" (1463).

hover --- c.1400, hoveren, freq. of hoven "hover, tarry, linger" (c.1250), of unknown origin, chiefly nautical at first, of ships standing off a coast. Hovercraft first attested 1959; a proprietary name after 1961.

how (adv.) --- O.E. hu, from W.Gmc. *khwo- (cf. O.S. hwo, O.Fris., M.Du. hu, Du. hoe, Ger. wie, Goth. hvaiwa "how"), from common PIE interrogative pronomial stem. However is M.E.; how come? for "why?" is recorded from 1848. And how! emphatic, first recorded 1865, said to be a Ger.-Amer. colloquialism.

how (interj.) --- Native American greeting, Siouxan (cf. Dakota hao, Omaha hau); first recorded 1817 in Eng, but noted early 17c. by Fr. missionary Jean de Brebeuf among Hurons as an expression of approval (1636).

Howard --- proper name, from O.Fr. Huard, from a Gmc. source similar to O.H.G. *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-weard, lit. "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate O.N. Haward, and also with unrelated Hayward. In some rare cases from O.E. eowu hierde "ewe herd."

howbeit --- 1398, contraction of how be it.

howdy --- 1840, first recorded in Southern U.S. dialect, contraction of how do you do (1632), phrase inquiring after someone's health; earlier how do ye (1563).

howitzer --- 1687, via Du. houwitser (1663), Ger. Haubitze from Czech houfnice "a catapult," introduced to Ger. during the Hussite wars, 14c.

howl (v.) --- c.1220, houlen, probably of imitative origin. Howler "glaring blunder, ridiculous mistake" is first recorded 1890.

hoyden --- 1593, perhaps from Du. heiden "rustic, uncivilized man," from M.Du. heiden "heathen." Originally in Eng. "rude, boorish fellow," sense of "ill-bred, boisterous female" first recorded 1676.

Hoyle --- cited as a typical authority on card or board games, in ref. to Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769), author of several works on card-playing.

HTML --- 1992, from Hypertext Markup Language.

hub --- 1511, perhaps from hubbe, originally "lump," the source of hob of a fireplace and hobnail, as in boots. A wheelwright's word, not generally known or used until c.1828; it reached wider currency in connection with bicycles. Meaning "center of interest or activity or importance" first recorded 1858 in writings of Oliver W. Holmes. "Boston State-House is the hub of the solar system." [O.W. Holmes, "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table"] Hub cap first recorded 1913.

hubba-hubba --- U.S. slang cry of excitement or enthusiasm, first recorded 1944.

hubbub --- 1555, whobub "confused noise," generally believed to be of Irish origin, perhaps from Gaelic ub!, expression of aversion or contempt, or O.Ir. battle cry abu, from buide "victory."

Hubert --- masc. proper name, from Fr., from O.H.G. Hugubert, lit. "bright-minded," from hugu "mind" + beraht "bright."

hubris --- 1884, from Gk. hybris "wanton violence, insolence, outrage," originally "presumption toward the gods," of unknown origin.

huckleberry --- 1670, Amer.Eng., probably an alteration of M.E. hurtilbery "whortleberry," from O.E. horte. Technically the fruit and plant of Gaylussacia, but also colloquially applied to the closely related blueberry. Slang meaning "person of little consequence" is attested from 1835.

huckster --- c.1200, M.Du. hokester "peddler," from hoken "to peddle" (see hawk (v.)) + agent suffix -ster (which was fem. in Eng., but not in Low Ger.). Derogatory sense is 16c.; specific sense of "advertising salesman" is from 1946 novel by Frederick Wakeman.

huddle (v.) --- 1564, "to heap or crowd together," probably from Low Ger. hudern "to cover, to shelter," from M.L.G. huden "to cover up" (see hide). The noun meaning "close or secret conference" is from 1929.

hue (1) --- color, O.E. hiw "color, form, appearance, beauty," earlier hiow, heow, from P.Gmc. *khiwjan (cf. O.N. hy "bird's down," Swed. hy "skin, complexion," Goth. hiwi "form, appearance"), probably cognate with Skt. chawi "hide, skin, complexion, color, beauty, splendor." A common word in O.E., squeezed into obscurity after c.1600 by color.

hue (2) --- a shouting, c.1250, from O.Fr. hue "outcry, noise, war or hunting cry," probably of imitative origin. Hue and cry is 1292 as an Anglo-Fr. legal term meaning "outcry calling for pursuit of a felon." Extended sense of "cry of alarm" is 1584.

huff --- c.1450, apparently imitative of exhaling. Extended sense of "bluster with indignation" is attested from 1599. Huffy "ready to take offense" is from 1680.

hug --- 1567, hugge "to embrace," perhaps from O.N. hugga "to comfort," from hugr "courage, mood," from P.Gmc. *hugjan, related to O.E. hycgan "to think, consider," Goth. hugs "mind, soul, thought." Other have noted the similarity in some senses to Ger. hegen "to foster, cherish," originally "to enclose with a hedge." The noun was originally (1617) a hold in wrestling.

huge --- c.1150, apparently aphetic of O.Fr. ahuge "extremely large," of uncertain origin. Expanded form hugeous is attested from 1529.

huggermugger --- secretly, 1529, from Fr., earlier hucker mucker, of unknown origin.

Hugh --- masc. proper name, from O.N.Fr. Hugues, O.Fr. Hue, from a Frank. name meaning "heart, mind," cf. O.H.G. Hugi, related to hugu "mind, soul, thought." Very popular after the Conquest (often in L. form Hugo); the common form was Howe, the nickname form Hudd. Its popularity is attested by the more than 90 surnames formed from it, including Hughes, Howe, Hudson, Hewitt, Hutchins.

Huguenot --- 1562, from M.Fr., according to Fr. sources originally political, not religious. The name was applied in 1520s to Genevan partisans opposed to the Duke of Savoy (who joined Geneva to the Swiss Confederation), and it is probably an alteration of Swiss Ger. Eidgenoss "confederate," from M.H.G. eitgenoze, from eit "oath" + genoze "comrade" (related to O.E. geneat "comrade, companion"). The form of the Fr. word probably alt. by assoc. with Hugues Besançon, leader of the Genevan partisans. In Fr., applied generally to Fr. Protestants because Geneva was a Calvinist center.