3. The nearest the middle or center; the part most hidden and within; the inmost or most essential part of
any body or system; the source of life and motion in any organization; the chief or vital portion; the center
of activity, or of energetic or efficient action; as, the heart of a country, of a tree, etc.
Exploits done in the heart of France.
Shak.
Peace subsisting at the heart
Of endless agitation.
Wordsworth. 4. Courage; courageous purpose; spirit.
Eve, recovering heart, replied.
Milton.
The expelled nations take heart, and when they fly from one country invade another.
Sir W. Temple. 5. Vigorous and efficient activity; power of fertile production; condition of the soil, whether good or bad.
That the spent earth may gather heart again.
Dryden. 6. That which resembles a heart in shape; especially, a roundish or oval figure or object having an obtuse
point at one end, and at the other a corresponding indentation, — used as a symbol or representative of
the heart.
7. One of a series of playing cards, distinguished by the figure or figures of a heart; as, hearts are trumps.
8. Vital part; secret meaning; real intention.
And then show you the heart of my message.
Shak. 9. A term of affectionate or kindly and familiar address. "I speak to thee, my heart." Shak.
Heart is used in many compounds, the most of which need no special explanation; as, heart-appalling,
heart-breaking, heart-cheering, heart-chilled, heart-expanding, heart-free, heart-hardened, heart-
heavy, heart-purifying, heart-searching, heart-sickening, heart-sinking, heart-sore, heart-stirring,
heart-touching, heart-wearing, heart-whole, heart-wounding, heart-wringing, etc.
After one's own heart, conforming with one's inmost approval and desire; as, a friend after my own
heart.
The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart.
1 Sam. xiii. 14. —
At heart, in the inmost character or disposition; at bottom; really; as, he is at heart a good man. —
By heart, in the closest or most thorough manner; as, to know or learn by heart. "Composing songs,
for fools to get by heart" (that is, to commit to memory, or to learn thoroughly). Pope. — For my heart,
for my life; if my life were at stake. [Obs.] "I could not get him for my heart to do it." Shak. — Heart
bond (Masonry), a bond in which no header stone stretches across the wall, but two headers meet
in the middle, and their joint is covered by another stone laid header fashion. Knight. — Heart and
hand, with enthusiastic coöperation. — Heart hardness, hardness of heart; callousness of feeling; moral
insensibility. Shak. — Heart heaviness, depression of spirits. Shak. — Heart point (Her.), the
fess point. See Escutcheon. — Heart rising, a rising of the heart, as in opposition. — Heart shell
(Zoöl.), any marine, bivalve shell of the genus Cardium and allied genera, having a heart-shaped shell; esp.,
the European Isocardia cor; — called also heart cockle. — Heart sickness, extreme depression of
spirits. — Heart and soul, with the utmost earnestness. — Heart urchin (Zoöl.), any heartshaped,
spatangoid sea urchin. See Spatangoid. — Heart wheel, a form of cam, shaped like a heart. See
Cam. — In good heart, in good courage; in good hope. — Out of heart, discouraged. — Poor
heart, an exclamation of pity. — To break the heart of. (a) To bring to despair or hopeless grief; to
cause to be utterly cast down by sorrow. (b) To bring almost to completion; to finish very nearly; — said
