'To lose heart' definitions:

Definition of 'To lose heart'

From: GCIDE
  • Heart \Heart\ (h[aum]rt), n. [OE. harte, herte, heorte, AS. heorte; akin to OS. herta, OFies. hirte, D. hart, OHG. herza, G. herz, Icel. hjarta, Sw. hjerta, Goth. ha['i]rt[=o], Lith. szirdis, Russ. serdtse, Ir. cridhe, L. cor, Gr. kardi`a, kh^r. [root]277. Cf. Accord, Discord, Cordial, 4th Core, Courage.]
  • 1. (Anat.) A hollow, muscular organ, which, by contracting rhythmically, keeps up the circulation of the blood. [1913 Webster]
  • Why does my blood thus muster to my heart! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In adult mammals and birds, the heart is four-chambered, the right auricle and ventricle being completely separated from the left auricle and ventricle; and the blood flows from the systemic veins to the right auricle, thence to the right ventricle, from which it is forced to the lungs, then returned to the left auricle, thence passes to the left ventricle, from which it is driven into the systemic arteries. See Illust. under Aorta. In fishes there are but one auricle and one ventricle, the blood being pumped from the ventricle through the gills to the system, and thence returned to the auricle. In most amphibians and reptiles, the separation of the auricles is partial or complete, and in reptiles the ventricles also are separated more or less completely. The so-called lymph hearts, found in many amphibians, reptiles, and birds, are contractile sacs, which pump the lymph into the veins. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, and the like; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; -- usually in a good sense, when no epithet is expressed; the better or lovelier part of our nature; the spring of all our actions and purposes; the seat of moral life and character; the moral affections and character itself; the individual disposition and character; as, a good, tender, loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart. [1913 Webster]
  • Hearts are dust, hearts' loves remain. --Emerson. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Exploits done in the heart of France. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Peace subsisting at the heart Of endless agitation. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Courage; courageous purpose; spirit. [1913 Webster]
  • Eve, recovering heart, replied. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • The expelled nations take heart, and when they fly from one country invade another. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Vigorous and efficient activity; power of fertile production; condition of the soil, whether good or bad. [1913 Webster]
  • That the spent earth may gather heart again. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. One of the suits of playing cards, distinguished by the figure or figures of a heart; as, hearts are trumps. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. Vital part; secret meaning; real intention. [1913 Webster]
  • And then show you the heart of my message. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. A term of affectionate or kindly and familiar address. "I speak to thee, my heart." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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.
  • to learn by heart, to memorize.
  • 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 co["o]peration.
  • 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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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 of anything undertaken; as, he has broken the heart of the task.
  • To find in the heart, to be willing or disposed. "I could find in my heart to ask your pardon." --Sir P. Sidney.
  • To have at heart, to desire (anything) earnestly.
  • To have in the heart, to purpose; to design or intend to do.
  • To have the heart in the mouth, to be much frightened.
  • To lose heart, to become discouraged.
  • To lose one's heart, to fall in love.
  • To set the heart at rest, to put one's self at ease.
  • To set the heart upon, to fix the desires on; to long for earnestly; to be very fond of.
  • To take heart of grace, to take courage.
  • To take to heart, to grieve over.
  • To wear one's heart upon one's sleeve, to expose one's feelings or intentions; to be frank or impulsive.
  • With all one's heart, With one's whole heart, very earnestly; fully; completely; devotedly. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'To lose heart'

From: GCIDE
  • Lose \Lose\ (l[=oo]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lost (l[o^]st; 115) p. pr. & vb. n. Losing (l[=oo]z"[i^]ng).] [OE. losien to loose, be lost, lose, AS. losian to become loose; akin to OE. leosen to lose, p. p. loren, lorn, AS. le['i]san, p. p. loren (in comp.), D. verliezen, G. verlieren, Dan. forlise, Sw. f["o]rlisa, f["o]rlora, Goth. fraliusan, also to E. loose, a & v., L. luere to loose, Gr. ly`ein, Skr. l[=u] to cut. [root]127. Cf. Analysis, Palsy, Solve, Forlorn, Leasing, Loose, Loss.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To part with unintentionally or unwillingly, as by accident, misfortune, negligence, penalty, forfeit, etc.; to be deprived of; as, to lose money from one's purse or pocket, or in business or gaming; to lose an arm or a leg by amputation; to lose men in battle. [1913 Webster]
  • Fair Venus wept the sad disaster Of having lost her favorite dove. --Prior. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To cease to have; to possess no longer; to suffer diminution of; as, to lose one's relish for anything; to lose one's health. [1913 Webster]
  • If the salt hath lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? --Matt. v. 13. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Not to employ; to employ ineffectually; to throw away; to waste; to squander; as, to lose a day; to lose the benefits of instruction. [1913 Webster]
  • The unhappy have but hours, and these they lose. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to and; to go astray from; as, to lose one's way. [1913 Webster]
  • He hath lost his fellows. --Shak [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To ruin; to destroy; as destroy; as, the ship was lost on the ledge. [1913 Webster]
  • The woman that deliberates is lost. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To be deprived of the view of; to cease to see or know the whereabouts of; as, he lost his companion in the crowd. [1913 Webster]
  • Like following life thro' creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To fail to obtain or enjoy; to fail to gain or win; hence, to fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss; as, I lost a part of what he said. [1913 Webster]
  • He shall in no wise lose his reward. --Matt. x. 42. [1913 Webster]
  • I fought the battle bravely which I lost, And lost it but to Macedonians. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. To cause to part with; to deprive of. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • How should you go about to lose him a wife he loves with so much passion? --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. To prevent from gaining or obtaining. [1913 Webster]
  • O false heart! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory. --Baxter. [1913 Webster]
  • To lose ground, to fall behind; to suffer gradual loss or disadvantage.
  • To lose heart, to lose courage; to become timid. "The mutineers lost heart." --Macaulay.
  • To lose one's head, to be thrown off one's balance; to lose the use of one's good sense or judgment, through fear, anger, or other emotion. [1913 Webster]
  • In the excitement of such a discovery, many scholars lost their heads. --Whitney.
  • To lose one's self. (a) To forget or mistake the bearing of surrounding objects; as, to lose one's self in a great city. (b) To have the perceptive and rational power temporarily suspended; as, we lose ourselves in sleep.
  • To lose sight of. (a) To cease to see; as, to lose sight of the land. (b) To overlook; to forget; to fail to perceive; as, he lost sight of the issue. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'To lose heart'