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hem
1[ hem ]
verb (used with object)
- to fold back and sew down the edge of (cloth, a garment, etc.); form an edge or border on or around.
- to enclose or confine (usually followed by in, around, or about ):
hemmed in by enemies.
noun
- an edge made by folding back the margin of cloth and sewing it down.
- the edge or border of a garment, drape, etc., especially at the bottom.
- the edge, border, or margin of anything.
- Architecture. the raised edge forming the volute of an Ionic capital.
hem
2[ hem ]
interjection
- (an utterance resembling a slight clearing of the throat, used to attract attention, express doubt, etc.)
noun
- the utterance or sound of 鈥渉em.鈥
- a sound or pause of hesitation:
His sermon was full of hems and haws.
verb (used without object)
- to utter the sound 鈥渉em.鈥
- to hesitate in speaking.
hem-
3- variant of hemo- before a vowel:
hemal.
hem-
1combining_form
- a US variant of haemo-
hem
2/ 丑蓻尘 /
noun
- an edge to a piece of cloth, made by folding the raw edge under and stitching it down
- short for hemline
verb
- to provide with a hem
- usually foll byin, around, or about to enclose or confine
hem
3/ 丑蓻尘 /
noun
- a representation of the sound of clearing the throat, used to gain attention, express hesitation, etc
verb
- intr to utter this sound
- hem and haw or hum and hawto hesitate in speaking or in making a decision
亚洲网紅露点 History and Origins
Origin of hem1
Origin of hem2
亚洲网紅露点 History and Origins
Origin of hem1
Idioms and Phrases
- hem and haw,
- to hesitate or falter:
She hemmed and hawed a lot before she came to the point.
- to speak noncommittally; avoid giving a direct answer:
He hems and haws and comes out on both sides of every question.
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Related 亚洲网紅露点s
亚洲网紅露点s That Use Hem-
What does hem- mean?
Hem- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning 鈥渂lood.鈥 It is used in many medical terms, especially in pathology.
Hem- comes from the Greek 丑补卯尘补, meaning 鈥渂lood.鈥
Hem- is a variant of hemo-, which loses its -o鈥 when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. The spelling haem- is chiefly used in British English.
Want to know more? Read our 亚洲网紅露点s That Use hemo- article.
Other variants of hem- used like hem- are hema-, hemato-, and hemat-.
As with haem-, all of these combining forms are often spelled with an additional a in British English, as in haemo-, haema-, haemato-, and haemat-. Historically, these forms have been spelled with a ligature of the a and e, as in 丑忙尘-.
Closely related to hem- are -aemia, -emia, -haemia, and -hemia, which are combined to the ends of words to denote blood conditions.
You can learn all about the specific applications for each of these forms at our 亚洲网紅露点s That Use articles for them.
Examples of hem-
One medical term that features the combining form hem- is hemagogue, 鈥渁n agent that promotes the flow of blood.鈥
The first part of the word, hem-, means 鈥渂lood.鈥 The second part of the word, -agogue, is a combining form that means 鈥渓eader, bringer.鈥 It is used in medical terms to denote substances inducing expulsion or secretion. Hemagogue literally translates to 鈥渂ringer of blood.鈥
What are some words that use the combining form hem-?
What are some other forms that hem- may be commonly confused with?
Hem- is not to be confused with hem, a bottom edge of a piece of clothing or sound of clearing the throat, among other senses. And outside medicine, most words that begin with the exact letters hem- are not using it as a combining form to refer to blood, e.g., hemp.
Definitions and idiom definitions from 亚洲网紅露点 Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 漏 Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage庐 Idioms Dictionary copyright 漏 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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