Heav"y (?), a.
Having the heaves.
© Webster 1913.
Heav"y (?), a. [Compar. Heavier (?); superl. Heaviest.] [OE. hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG. hebig, hevig, Icel. hofigr, hofugr. See Heave.]
1.
Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.; often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a heavy draught.
2.
Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod.
1 Sam. v. 6.
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make.
Shak.
Sent hither to impart the heavy news.
Wordsworth.
Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.
Shak.
3.
Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment.
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were.
Chapman.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband.
Shak.
4.
Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book.
Whilst the heavy plowman snores.
Shak.
Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind.
Dryden.
Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear.
Is. lix. 1.
5.
Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like.
6.
Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.
Byron.
7.
Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the sky.
8.
Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like.
9.
Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.
10.
Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; -- said of food.
11.
Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other liquors.
12.
With child; pregnant.
[R.]
Heavy artillery. Mil. (a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp. siege, garrison, and seacoast guns. (b) Troops which serve heavy guns. -- Heavy cavalry. See under Cavalry. -- Heavy fire Mil., a continuous or destructive cannonading, or discharge of small arms. -- Heavy metal Mil., large guns carrying balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns.<-- a type of rock music (1970's), with a hard beat, amplified electronically --> -- Heavy metals. Chem. See under Metal. -- Heavy weight, in wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the heaviest of the classes into which contestants are divided. Cf. Feather weight (c), under Feather.
⇒ Heavy is used in composition to form many words which need no special explanation; as, heavy-built, heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc.
© Webster 1913.
Heav"y
, adv. Heavily; -- sometimes used in composition; as, heavy-laden.
© Webster 1913.
Heav"y, v. t.
To make heavy.
[Obs.]
Wyclif.
© Webster 1913.