First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1hale
adjective \ˈhāl\
: healthy and strong
Full Definition of HALE
: free from defect, disease, or infirmity : sound; also : retaining exceptional health and vigor <a hale and hearty old man>
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Origin of HALE
partly from Middle English (northern) hale, from Old English hāl; partly from Middle English hail, from Old Norse heill — more at whole
Related to HALE
Synonym Discussion of HALE
healthy, sound, wholesome, robust, hale, well mean enjoying or indicative of good health. healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease <a healthy family>. sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction <a sound heart>. wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance <a face with a wholesome glow>. robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly <a lively, robust little boy>. hale applies particularly to robustness in old age <still hale at the age of eighty>. well implies merely freedom from disease or illness <she has never been a well person>.
Rhymes with HALE
2hale
verb
haledhal·ing
Definition of HALE
transitive verb
2
: to compel to go
Origin of HALE
Middle English halen, from Anglo-French haler, aler — more at haul
First Known Use: 13th century
Hale
biographical name \ˈhāl\
Definition of HALE
Edward Everett 1822–1909 Am. Unitarian clergyman & writer
Hale
biographical name
Definition of HALE
George Ellery 1868–1938 Am. astron.
Hale
biographical name
Definition of HALE
Sir Matthew 1609–1676 Eng. jurist
Hale
biographical name
Definition of HALE
Nathan 1755–1776 Am. Revolutionary hero
HALE Defined for Kids
1hale
adjective \ˈhāl\
Definition of HALE for Kids
: strong and healthy <a hale and hearty man>
2hale
verb
haledhal·ing
Definition of HALE for Kids
: to force to go <The judge haled them into court.>
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