- Heavy
- Heavy Heav"y, a. [Compar. {Heavier}; superl. {Heaviest}.] [OE.
hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG.
hebig, hevig, Icel. h["o]figr, h["o]fugr. See {Heave}.]
1. Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty;
ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in
extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or
snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.;
often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also,
difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.
[1913 Webster]
2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc. [1913 Webster]
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod. --1 Sam. v. 6. [1913 Webster]
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Sent hither to impart the heavy news. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment. [1913 Webster]
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book. [1913 Webster]
Whilst the heavy plowman snores. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear. --Is. lix. 1. [1913 Webster]
5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like. [1913 Webster]
6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder. [1913 Webster]
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the sky. [1913 Webster]
8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like. [1913 Webster]
9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread. [1913 Webster]
10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; -- said of food. [1913 Webster]
11. Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other liquors. [1913 Webster]
12. With child; pregnant. [R.] [1913 Webster]
{Heavy artillery}. (Mil.) (a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp. siege, garrison, and seacoast guns. (b) Troops which serve heavy guns.
{Heavy cavalry}. See under {Cavalry}.
{Heavy fire} (Mil.), a continuous or destructive cannonading, or discharge of small arms.
{Heavy metal} (Mil.), large guns carrying balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns.
{Heavy metals}. (Chem.) See under {Metal}.
{Heavy weight}, in wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the heaviest of the classes into which contestants are divided. Cf. {Feather weight} (c), under {Feather}. [1913 Webster]
Note: Heavy is used in composition to form many words which need no special explanation; as, heavy-built, heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
