hɪˈrəuɪk adj. & n. --adj. 1 a (of an
act or a quality) of or fit
for a
hero. b (of a person) like a hero. 2 a (of language)
grand, high-flown,
dramatic. b (of a
work of art) heroic in scale or
subject. 3 (of poetry) dealing
with the ancient heroes. --n. (in pl.) 1 a high-flown
language or sentiments. b unduly
bold behaviour. 2 = heroic
verse. øthe heroic
age the
period in
Greek history before the
return from Troy. heroic
couplet two lines of rhyming
iambic pentameters. heroic verse a
type of verse used for heroic
poetry,
esp. the
hexameter, the iambic
pentameter, or the
alexandrine. øøheroically adv. [F h÷roìque or L heroicus f. Gk heroikos (as HERO)]