Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Hem?

\Hem\, pron. [OE., fr. AS. him, heom, dative pl. of. h? he. See {He}, {They}.] Them [Obs.] --Chaucer.
\Hem\, interj. An onomatopoetic word used as an expression of hesitation, doubt, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm. Cough or cry hem, if anybody come. --Shak.
\Hem\, n. An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention. ``His morning hems.'' --Spectator.
\Hem\, v. i. [???. See {Hem}, interj.] To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking. ``Hem, and stroke thy beard.'' --Shak.
\Hem\, n. [AS. hem, border, margin; cf. Fries. h["a]mel, Prov. G. hammel hem of mire or dirt.] 1. The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen raveling. 2. Border; edge; margin. ``Hem of the sea.'' --Shak. 3. A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.
\Hem\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hemmed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hemming}.] 1. To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of. --Wordsworth. 2. To border; to edge All the skirt about Was hemmed with golden fringe. --Spenser. {To hem about}, {around}, or {in}, to inclose and confine; to surround; to environ. ``With valiant squadrons round about to hem.'' --Fairfax. ``Hemmed in to be a spoil to tyranny.'' --Daniel. {To hem out}, to shut out. ``You can not hem me out of London.'' --J. Webster.