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English

Etymology

From Latin heros � Homeric Greek ἥ��� (demi-god), according to Plato derives from Eros.fact Modern etymologists, based on the work of Julius Pokorny, derive the word from Indo-European *ser-, "protect". A hero is a "protector" or "defender". Both the American Heritage Dictionary and Webster's Third International Dictionary take this view. In the works of Homer, the word is reserved to the chief warriors and captains. Words such as Hera and conserve come from the same root.

Pronunciation
audio|en-us-hero.ogg|Audio (US)

Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-ɪ�r��|-ɪ�r��

Noun
en-noun|es

1. A real or mythical person of great bravery who carries out extraordinary deeds.
2. A role model.
3. The main protagonist in a work of fiction.
4. A champion.
5. A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses.

Synonyms
see WikiSaurus:hero

Derived terms
top2
heroic
heroics
mid2
heroism
unsung hero
bottom2

Translations
trans-top|person of great bravery
Bulgarian: ге�ой m, ге�оин� f, ге�ои p
Chinese: �� (yingxiong), �士 (yongshi)
Croatian: t-|hr|junak|m
Czech: t-|cs|hrdina|m
Danish: t-|da|helt|c
Dutch: t+|nl|held|m, t-|nl|heldin|f
Estonian: kangelane
Finnish: t+|fi|sankari
French: t+|fr|héros|m
German: t+|de|Held|m, t-|de|Heldin|f
Greek: t+|el|ή��α�|m|tríroas|scGrek, t+|el|η��ίδα|f|triroída|scGrek
Hebrew: t|he|���ר |sc=Hebr
Hungarian: t+|hu|h�s, t-|hu|dalia, t-|hu|hérosz, t-|hu|félisten
Icelandic: t+|is|hetja
Italian: t-|it|eroe|m
trans-mid
Japanese: �� (eiyū), �� (yūsha)
Kurdish: t+|ku|�ار���ا�|sc=KUchar
Lithuanian: didvyris m, didvyr� f
Malay: wira
Old English: t-|ang|hæleþ|xsOld English, t-|ang|beorn|xsOld English
Persian: ��راد
Polish: t+|pl|bohater|m, t-|pl|heros|m
Portuguese: t+|pt|herói|m, t-|pt|heroína|f
Russian: t+|ru|ге�ой|m|trg'erój|scCyrl
Scottish Gaelic: gaisgeach m, laoch m,
Serbian: t-|sr|junak|m, t-|sr|junakinja|f
Spanish: t+|es|héroe|m
Swedish: t+|sv|hjälte|c
Welsh: arwr, gwron
trans-bottom

trans-top|role model
Czech: vzor m (also for females), vzory p
Greek: t|el|������ο|n|trprótypo|scGrek, t+|el|ή��α�|m|tríroas|scGrek
trans-mid
Russian: t+|ru|ге�ой|m|trg'erój|scCyrl, t+|ru|пе��онаж|m|trp'ersonáž|scCyrl, t+|ru|ава�а�|m|travatár|scCyrl
Serbian: uzor
trans-bottom

trans-top|main protagonist
Czech: t-|cs|hrdina|m, t|cs| hrdinka, t-|cs|hrdinové|p
Dutch: held m, hoofdrolspeler m
Finnish: päähenkilö, sankari
German: t+|de|Held|m
Greek: t+|el|ή��α�|m|tríroas|scGrek, t+|el|η��ίδα|f|triroída|scGrek
Lithuanian herojus
trans-mid
Polish: bohater m
Portuguese: t+|pt|herói|m, t-|pt|heroína|f
Russian: глан�й ге�ой (glávnyj g'erój) m
Scottish Gaelic: gaisgeach m, laoch m, ban-ghaisgeach f
Serbian: t-|sr|junak
Swedish: t+|sv|hjälte|c
trans-bottom

trans-top|champion
Greek: t|el|��ε�α��ι��ή�|m|tryperaspistís|scGrek, t|el|��έ�μα�ο�|m|trypérmachos|scGrek
trans-mid
trans-bottom

Translations to be checked
checktrans
ttbc|Kapampangan: bayani
ttbc|Slovak: hrdina#Slovak|hrdina m, hrdinka f

Related terms
heroine

Category:English nouns with irregular plurals
Category:Greek derivations

ang:hero
zh-min-nan:hero
el:hero
fa:hero
fr:hero
ko:hero
io:hero
it:hero
ku:hero
hu:hero
pl:hero
ru:hero
fi:hero
ta:hero
te:hero
vi:hero
zh:hero

• 2007-12-24 21:54 - Mallerd - sorry, the *ser- wasn't sure

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