Heritor
(Her"it*or) n. [Cf. LL. herator, fr. L. heres an heir.] A proprietor or landholder in a parish.
[Scot.]
Herl
(Herl) n. (Zoöl.) Same as Harl, 2.
Herling
(Her"ling, Hir"ling) n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.) The young of the sea trout. [Prov. Eng.]
Herma
(||Her"ma) n.; pl. Hermæ [L.] See Hermes, 2.
Hermaphrodeity
(Her*maph`ro*de"i*ty) n. Hermaphrodism. B. Jonson.
Hermaphrodism
(Her*maph"ro*dism) n. [Cf. F. hermaphrodisme.] (Biol.) See Hermaphroditism.
Hermaphrodite
(Her*maph"ro*dite) n. [L. hermaphroditus, Gr. so called from the mythical story that
Hermaphroditus, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, when bathing, became joined in one body with Salmacis,
the nymph of a fountain in Caria: cf. F. hermaphrodite.] (Biol.) An individual which has the attributes
of both male and female, or which unites in itself the two sexes; an animal or plant having the parts of
generation of both sexes, as when a flower contains both the stamens and pistil within the same calyx,
or on the same receptacle. In some cases reproduction may take place without the union of the distinct
individuals. In the animal kingdom true hermaphrodites are found only among the invertebrates. See
Illust. in Appendix, under Helminths.
Hermaphrodite
(Her*maph"ro*dite), a. Including, or being of, both sexes; as, an hermaphrodite animal
or flower.
Hermaphrodite brig. (Naut.) See under Brig. Totten.
Hermaphroditic
(Her*maph`ro*dit"ic Her*maph`ro*dit"ic*al) a. (Biol.) Partaking of the characteristics of
both sexes; characterized by hermaphroditism. — Her*maph`ro*dit"ic*al*ly, adv.
Hermaphroditism
(Her*maph"ro*dit*ism) n. (Biol.) The union of the two sexes in the same individual,
or the combination of some of their characteristics or organs in one individual.
Hermeneutic
(Her`me*neu"tic Her`me*neu"tic*al) a. [Gr. fr. to interpret: cf. F. herméneutique.] Unfolding
the signification; of or pertaining to interpretation; exegetical; explanatory; as, hermeneutic theology, or the
art of expounding the Scriptures; a hermeneutic phrase.
Hermeneutically
(Her`me*neu"tic*al*ly), adv. According to the principles of interpretation; as, a verse of
Scripture was examined hermeneutically.
Hermeneutics
(Her`me*neu"tics) n. [Gr. (sc. ).] The science of interpretation and explanation; exegesis; esp.,
that branch of theology which defines the laws whereby the meaning of the Scriptures is to be ascertained.
Schaff- Herzog Encyc.
Hermes
(Her"mes) n. [L., fr. Gr. .]
1. (Myth.) See Mercury.
Hermes Trismegistus [Gr. 'Ermh^s trisme`gistos, lit., Hermes thrice greatest] was a late name of Hermes,
especially as identified with the Egyptian god Thoth. He was the fabled inventor of astrology and alchemy.
2. (Archæology) Originally, a boundary stone dedicated to Hermes as the god of boundaries, and therefore
bearing in some cases a head, or head and shoulders, placed upon a quadrangular pillar whose height
is that of the body belonging to the head, sometimes having feet or other parts of the body sculptured
upon it. These figures, though often representing Hermes, were used for other divinities, and even, in
later times, for portraits of human beings. Called also herma. See Terminal statue, under Terminal.
