heroic English · revision 16175

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1550, Complaynt of Scotland|origins=grc ἥρως}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /hɪˈɹəʊ.ɪk/ ''(UK)''; /hɪˈɹoʊ.ɪk/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|heroïque]] and Latin [[m|la|hērōicus|t=of a hero, heroic]],^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010) from [[grc|ἡρωικός|tr=hērōikós|t=of or for a hero]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|grc|ἥρως|tr=hḗrōs|t=hero]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(ODE 2010) Etymonline describes it as shortened from the earlier [[heroical]] (early 15th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of an action or quality, brave, noble, characteristic of a hero: about 1550, in the ''Complaynt of Scotland'';^(OED 2026) SOED and Merriam-Webster date the word to the 15th century.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 1580s it described verse and poetry dealing with mythological or historical heroes, as in Sidney's ''Apologie for Poetrie'',^(OED 2026) and the grand style of such poetry, which could also be called bombastic (1590, Spenser).^(OED 2026) ''Heroic age'' for the period of Greek legend before and after the Trojan War is from 1654,^(OED 2026) and the period of greatest achievement in any field from 1793.^(OED 2026) From 1632 it also meant ambitious or involving extreme measures,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and in medicine, aggressive treatment that may save a life but risks harm (1818).^(OED 2026) A heroic statue is larger than life but smaller than colossal (1712),^(OED 2026) and humorously anything enormous (1785).^(OED 2026) The plural noun ''[[heroics]]'', extravagant or showy behaviour, grew from the noun use (heroic verse, 1573).^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1550 – brave, noble.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1573 – the noun, heroic verse.^(MWU 2024)

+ * c. 1585 – of verse, used for epic subjects.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1632 – bold, involving great effort.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1654 – ''heroic age''.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1712 – of a statue, larger than life.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1818 – of medical treatment, drastic.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Showing great [[courage]] or nobility; like a [[hero]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to the heroes of [[myth]] and legend, or to poetry about them; [[epic]].^(AHD 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Very large or ambitious; involving extreme effort or measures.^(AHD 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of a [[statue]], larger than life-size.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''heroics'': showy or extravagant behaviour or talk; also, brave deeds.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[heroically]]

+ * [[heroicalness]]

+ * [[antiheroic]]

+ * [[heroicize]]

+ * [[heroicomic]]

+ * [[mock-heroic]]

+ * [[nonheroic]]

+ * [[pseudoheroic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hero]]

+ * [[heroine]]

+ * [[heroism]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}