Library / English Dictionary

HEM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: hemmed    , hemming   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down

Example:

it seeped along the hem of his jacket

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("hem" is a kind of...):

edge (the outside limit of an object or area or surface; a place farthest away from the center of something)

Holonyms ("hem" is a part of...):

cloth; fabric; material; textile (artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers)

Derivation:

hem (fold over and sew together to provide with a hem)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.

Synonyms:

ahem; hem

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("hem" is a kind of...):

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Utter 'hem' or 'ahem'

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "hem" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fold over and sew together to provide with a hem

Example:

hem my skirt

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "hem" is one way to...):

run up; sew; sew together; stitch (fasten by sewing; do needlework)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

hem (the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Mr. Yates took the subject from his friend as soon as possible, and immediately gave Sir Thomas an account of what they had done and were doing: told him of the gradual increase of their views, the happy conclusion of their first difficulties, and present promising state of affairs; relating everything with so blind an interest as made him not only totally unconscious of the uneasy movements of many of his friends as they sat, the change of countenance, the fidget, the hem! of unquietness, but prevented him even from seeing the expression of the face on which his own eyes were fixed—from seeing Sir Thomas's dark brow contract as he looked with inquiring earnestness at his daughters and Edmund, dwelling particularly on the latter, and speaking a language, a remonstrance, a reproof, which he felt at his heart.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Even Mr. Weston shook his head, and looked solemn, and said, Ah! poor woman, who would have thought it! and resolved, that his mourning should be as handsome as possible; and his wife sat sighing and moralising over her broad hems with a commiseration and good sense, true and steady.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Ready? Ready for what? For the hem of my lady's train?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Every stitch Daisy's patient little fingers had put into the handkerchiefs she hemmed was better than embroidery to Mrs. March.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mr. Brocklehurst hemmed.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Very stiff and sore of foot I was in the morning, and quite dazed by the beating of drums and marching of troops, which seemed to hem me in on every side when I went down towards the long narrow street.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As she came out into the sunshine, Alleyne noticed that her light gown, slashed with pink, was all stained with earth and with moss upon one side from shoulder to hem.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On one occasion, Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass, rapped upon the table, hemmed, and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass, who was tilting back in his chair, till he arranged himself properly, began to read: (...)

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At first, being little accustomed to learn by heart, the lessons appeared to me both long and difficult; the frequent change from task to task, too, bewildered me; and I was glad when, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Smith put into my hands a border of muslin two yards long, together with needle, thimble, &c., and sent me to sit in a quiet corner of the schoolroom, with directions to hem the same.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

On the present occasion, Traddles was so hemmed in by the pagoda and the guitar-case, and Dora's flower-painting, and my writing-table, that I had serious doubts of the possibility of his using his knife and fork; but he protested, with his own good-humour, Oceans of room, Copperfield!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)