hero means any of a number of legendary men and women, including the priestess loved by Leander. It carries an Arena rating of 1688, earned across 14 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, hero ranks #259 of 42,806 for Qualifying, #447 of 17,135 for Most Malleable Words, #928 of 17,106 for Most Storied Words, #1,706 of 17,128 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
hero is pronounced /ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ/.
Why “hero” is a great word
A person admired for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities, or the chief male character in a story. From Middle English *heroes*, from Old French *heroes*, from Latin *hērōs* (plural *hērōes*), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (*hḗrōs*, "demi-god, hero"). Unlike "protagonist," a neutral term for a central character, or "antihero," a figure defined by the absence of traditional virtue, the hero is an idea freighted with expectation. He is the firefighter ascending into smoke, the witness who speaks when silence would be safer, the knight raising his sword because the dark must be held back—the vessel into which we pour our collective hope for a world where courage and goodness are not merely possible, but decisive.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Ἡρώ (Hērṓ).
name
- Any of a number of legendary men and women, including the priestess loved by Leander.
- A female given name from Ancient Greek of English-speakers.
noun
- Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds.e.g.“My mom died a hero on duty.”
- A role model.
- The protagonist in a work of fiction.
- The current player, especially a hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”).e.g.“Let's discuss how to play if the hero has KK, and there's an ace on board.”
- A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses.
- The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie.e.g.“The preparation of the hero food involves any number of specialized techniques food stylists have developed to deal with the demands of photographing food.” — 2003, Solomon H. Katz, William Woys Weaver, Encyclopedia of Food and Culture:
- The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold.
- The standout component of a dish; the part of a dish that should take center stage on the palate.
verb
- To act as a hero (brave person; role model; or protagonist).
- To praise or laud.
- To bring attention to; to highlight; to spotlight.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).