Word Study
heroic
CIDE DICTIONARY
heroic, a. [F. héroïque, L. heroïcus, Gr. .].
- Of or pertaining to, or like, a hero; of the nature of heroes; distinguished by the existence of heroes; as, the heroic age; an heroic people; heroic valor. [1913 Webster]
- Worthy of a hero; bold; daring; brave; illustrious; as, heroic action; heroic enterprises. [1913 Webster]
- Larger than life size, but smaller than colossal; -- said of the representation of a human figure. [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- Brave; intrepid; courageous; daring; valiant; bold; gallant; fearless; enterprising; noble; magnanimous; illustrious.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
heroic, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 a (of an act or a quality) of or fit for a hero. b (of a person) like a hero.
2 a (of language) grand, high-flown, dramatic. b (of a work of art) heroic in scale or subject.
3 (of poetry) dealing with the ancient heroes.
--n. (in pl.)
1 a high-flown language or sentiments. b unduly bold behaviour.
2 = heroic verse.
--adj.
1 a (of an act or a quality) of or fit for a hero. b (of a person) like a hero.
2 a (of language) grand, high-flown, dramatic. b (of a work of art) heroic in scale or subject.
3 (of poetry) dealing with the ancient heroes.
--n. (in pl.)
1 a high-flown language or sentiments. b unduly bold behaviour.
2 = heroic verse.
Idiom
the heroic age the period in Greek history before the return from Troy. heroic couplet two lines of rhyming iambic pentameters. heroic verse a type of verse used for heroic poetry, esp. the hexameter, the iambic pentameter, or the alexandrine.
Derivative
heroically adv.
Etymology
F h{eacute}ro{iuml}que or L heroicus f. Gk heroikos (as HERO)
THESAURUS
heroic
Alcaic, Anacreontic, Atlantean, Brobdingnagian, Castalian, Cyclopean, Gargantuan, Herculean, Homeric, Hudibrastic, Pierian, Pindaric, Theocritean, abysmal, acknowledged, admitted, alto, altruistic, astronomic, audacious, august, bardic, baritone, bass, big, bighearted, bold, bold-spirited, brave, bravura, bucolic, chivalric, chivalrous, choral, choric, classical, coloratura, colossal, conventional, courageous, customary, cyclopean, daring, dauntless, desperate, determined, didactic, distinguished, dithyrambic, doughty, dramatic, drastic, eclogic, elegiac, elephantine, elevated, eminent, enormous, epic, established, exaggerated, exalted, extravagant, extreme, fabulous, falsetto, famous, fearless, fixed, folk, gallant, generous, giant, giantlike, gigantic, glorious, godlike, grand, grandiose, great, great of heart, greathearted, hallowed, handed down, handsome, hardy, herolike, high, high-minded, hoary, honorable, huge, hymnal, idealistic, idyllic, immemorial, immense, infinite, intrepid, inveterate, ironhearted, jumbo, knightlike, knightly, largehearted, lauded, legendary, liberal, lionhearted, liturgical, lofty, long-established, long-standing, lyric, magnanimous, magnificent, magniloquent, majestic, mammoth, manful, manly, mighty, miraculous, mock-heroic, monster, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, mythological, narrative, noble, noble-minded, of long standing, of the folk, openhanded, operatic, oral, pastoral, plucky, poetic, poetico-mystical, poetico-mythological, poetico-philosophic, poetlike, prescriptive, princely, prodigious, profound, prominent, psalmic, psalmodial, psalmodic, renowned, rhapsodic, rooted, runic, sacred, sapphic, singing, skaldic, soaring, soldierlike, soldierly, soprano, stalwart, staunch, steadfast, stout, stouthearted, stupendous, sublime, superb, tenor, time-honored, titanic, towering, traditional, treble, tremendous, tried and true, true-blue, unafraid, undaunted, understood, unwritten, upstanding, valiant, valorous, vast, venerable, virile, virtuous, vocal, wonderful, worshipfulROGET THESAURUS
heroic
Courage
N courage, bravery, valor, resoluteness, boldness, spirit, daring, gallantry, intrepidity, contempt of danger, defiance of danger, derring-do, audacity, rashness, dash, defiance, confidence, self-reliance, manliness, manhood, nerve, pluck, mettle, game, heart, heart of grace, spunk, guts, face, virtue, hardihood, fortitude, intestinal fortitude, firmness, heart of oak, bottom, backbone, spine, resolution, bulldog courage, prowess, heroism, chivalry, exploit, feat, achievement, heroic deed, heroic act, bold stroke, man, man of mettle, hero, demigod, Amazon, Hector, lion, tiger, panther, bulldog, gamecock, fighting-cock, bully, fire eater, courageous, brave, valiant, valorous, gallant, intrepid, spirited, spiritful, high-spirited, high-mettled, mettlesome, plucky, manly, manful, resolute, stout, stout-hearted, iron-hearted, lion-hearted, heart of oak, Penthesilean, bold, bold-spirited, daring, audacious, fearless, dauntless, dreadless, aweless, undaunted, unappalled, undismayed, unawed, unblanched, unabashed, unalarmed, unflinching, unshrinking, unblanching, unapprehensive, confident, self-reliant, bold as a lion, bold as brass, enterprising, adventurous, venturous, venturesome, dashing, chivalrous, soldierly, heroic, fierce, savage, pugnacious, strong-minded, hardy, doughty, firm, determined, dogged, indomitable, up to, up to the scratch, upon one's mettle, reassured, unfeared, undreaded, one's blood being up, courage sans peur, fortes fortuna adjuvat, have I not in my time heard lions roar, I dare do all that may become a man, male vincetis sed vincite, omne solum forti patria, self-trust is the essence of heroism, stimulos dedit oemula virtus, strong and great, a hero, teloque animus proestantior omni, there, is always safety in valor, virtus ariete fortier.Repute
N repute, distinction, mark, name, figure, repute, reputation, good repute, high repute, note, notability, notoriety, eclat, the bubble reputation, vogue, celebrity, fame, famousness, renown, popularity, aura popularis, approbation, credit, succes d'estime, prestige, talk of the town, name to conjure with, glory, honor, luster, illustriousness, account, regard, respect, reputableness, respectability, good name, good report, fair name, dignity, stateliness, solemnity, grandeur, splendor, nobility, majesty, sublimity, rank, standing, brevet rank, precedence, pas, station, place, status, position, position in society, order, degree, baccalaureate, locus standi, caste, condition, greatness, eminence, height, importance, preeminence, supereminence, high mightiness, primacy, top of the ladder, top of the tree, elevation, ascent, superaltation, exaltation, dignification, aggrandizement, dedication, consecration, enthronement, canonization, celebration, enshrinement, glorification, hero, man of mark, great card, celebrity, worthy, lion, rara avis, notability, somebody, classman, man of rank, pillar of the state, pillar of the church, pillar of the community, chief, first fiddle, cynosure, mirror, flower, pink, pearl, paragon, choice and master spirits of the age, elite, star, sun, constellation, galaxy, ornament, honor, feather in one's cap, halo, aureole, nimbus, halo of glory, blaze of glory, blushing honors, laurels, memory, posthumous fame, niche in the temple of fame, immortality, immortal name, magni nominis umbra, distinguished, distingue, noted, of note, honored, popular, fashionable, in good odor in, favor, in high favor, reputable, respectable, creditable, remarkable, notable, notorious, celebrated, renowned, ion every one's mouth, talked of, famous, famed, far-famed, conspicuous, to the front, foremost, in the front rank, in the ascendant, imperishable, deathless, immortal, never fading, aere perennius, time honored, illustrious, glorious, splendid, brilliant, radiant, bright, full-blown, honorific, eminent, prominent, high, in the zenith, at the head of, at the top of the tree, peerless, of the first water, superior, supereminent, preeminent, great, dignified, proud, noble, honorable, worshipful, lordly, grand, stately, august, princely, imposing, solemn, transcendent, majestic, sacred, sublime, heaven- born, heroic, sans peur et sans reproche, sacrosanct, Int, hail!, all hail!, ave!, viva!, vive!, long life to!, banzai!, glory be to, honor be to?, one's name being in every mouth, one's name living for ever, sic itur ad astra, fama volat, aut Caesar aut nullus, not to know him argues oneself unknown, none but himself could be his parallel, palmam qui meruit ferat, above all Greek above all Roman fame, cineri gloria sera est, great is the glory for the strife is hard, honor virtutis praemium, immensum gloria calcar habet, the glory dies not and the grief is past, vivit post funera virtus.Disinterestedness
N disinterestedness, generosity, liberality, liberalism, altruism, benevolence, elevation, loftiness of purpose, exaltation, magnanimity, chivalry, chivalrous spirit, heroism, sublimity, self-denial, self-abnegation, self-sacrifice, self-immolation, self-control, stoicism, devotion, martyrdom, suttee, labor of love, disinterested, unselfish, self-denying, self-sacrificing, self- devoted, generous, handsome, liberal, noble, broad-minded, noble-minded, high-minded, princely, great, high, elevated, lofty, exalted, spirited, stoical, magnanimous, great-hearted, large-hearted, chivalrous, heroic, sublime, unbought, unbribed, uncorrupted, non vobis solum.For further exploring for "heroic" in Webster Dictionary Online