hector English · revision 1522

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=eponym|attested=1655}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɛktə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhɛktɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from ''Hector'', the Trojan hero of the Iliad,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la|Hector]], from [[grc|Ἕκτωρ|tr=Héktōr]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) literally “holder, stay”, an agent noun from [[m|grc|ἔχειν|tr=ékhein|t=to have, hold]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)^(Skeat 1911) from [[ine-pro|*segh-|t=to hold]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a swaggering fellow, a braggart or bully (1655 in the OED and Barnhart);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) the name was used earlier for a valiant warrior like Hector (1387).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Homer, Hector is the bravest of the Trojans and the ideal warrior;^(MW Word Histories) it is not entirely certain how his name came to mean a braggart and a bully.^(MW Word Histories) Etymonline links it to his urging the Trojans to keep up the fight,^(Etymonline) and Weekley to the bullying Hector of popular drama.^(Weekley 1921) In the mid-17th century the name was given to gangs of disorderly young men in the streets of London.^(Barnhart 1995) The verb, to play the bully, is from 1660, and to intimidate by bluster from 1664.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) Johnson defines a ''hector'' as “a blustering, turbulent, pervicacious, noisy fellow”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1387 – a valiant warrior like Hector.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1655 – a braggart, bully.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1660 – verb, to bluster, play the bully.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1664 – verb, to intimidate by bluster.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To intimidate, harass or dominate in a blustering way; to [[bully]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To behave like a bully; to [[swagger]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A blustering bully or [[braggart]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hectoringly]]

+ * [[unhectored]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Hector]]

+ * [[hectic]]

+ * [[scheme]]

+ * [[bully]]

+ * [[bluster]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}