Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Height?

\Height\, n. [Written also {hight}.] [OE. heighte, heght, heighthe, AS. he['a]h?u, fr. heah high; akin to D. hoogte, Sw. h["o]jd, Dan. h["o]ide, Icel. h[ae]?, Goth. hauhipa. See {High}.] 1. The condition of being high; elevated position. Behold the height of the stars, how high they are! --Job xxii. 12. 2. The distance to which anything rises above its foot, above that on which in stands, above the earth, or above the level of the sea; altitude; the measure upward from a surface, as the floor or the ground, of animal, especially of a man; stature. --Bacon. [Goliath's] height was six cubits and a span. --1 Sam. xvii. 4. 3. Degree of latitude either north or south. [Obs.] Guinea lieth to the north sea, in the same height as Peru to the south. --Abp. Abbot. 4. That which is elevated; an eminence; a hill or mountain; as, Alpine heights. --Dryden. 5. Elevation in excellence of any kind, as in power, learning, arts; also, an advanced degree of social rank; pre["e]minence or distinction in society; prominence. Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts. --R. Browning. All would in his power hold, all make his subjects. --Chapman. 6. Progress toward eminence; grade; degree. Social duties are carried to greater heights, and enforced with stronger motives by the principles of our religion. --Addison. 7. Utmost degree in extent; extreme limit of energy or condition; as, the height of a fever, of passion, of madness, of folly; the height of a tempest. My grief was at the height before thou camest. --Shak. {On height}, aloud. [Obs.] [He] spake these same words, all on hight. --Chaucer.