Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - hesse

 I. biographical name Hermann 1877-1962 German author  II. geographical name  or German ~n  1. region W central Germany N of Baden-Wurttemberg, divided into ~-Darmstadt (in the S) & ~-Cassel (in the N), the latter being united with Prussia in 1866 as part of the province of ~-Nassau along with the duchy of Nassau & the city of Frankfurt am Main  2. state of the Weimar Republic, equivalent to ~-Darmstadt  3. state of Germany & formerly of West Germany including larger part of ~-Darmstadt & part of ~-Nassau capital Wiesbaden area 8151 square miles (21,111 square kilometers), population 5,763,300