# heart
## English
### Alternative forms

* hart, harte, hearte (all obsolete)

### Etymology

* PIE word
* *ḱḗr
From Middle English herte, from Old English heorte (“heart”), from Proto-West Germanic *hertā, from Proto-Germanic *hertô (“heart”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱérd (“heart”). Doublet of cardia; see also core.
Most of the modern figurative senses (such as passion or compassion, spirit, inmost feelings, especially love, affection, and courage) were present in Old English. However, the meaning “center” dates from the early 14th century.
The verb sense “to love” is from the 1977 I ❤ NY advertising campaign.

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /hɑː(r)t/
* Audio (Received Pronunciation):(file)
* (General American) enPR: härt, IPA: /hɑɹt/
* Audio (California):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)t
* Homophone: hart

### Noun

heart (countable and uncountable, plural hearts)
* (anatomy) A muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally thought to be the seat of emotion.
** 1653, William Harvey, “The Causes which Mov’d the Author to Write”, in [anonymous], transl., The Anatomical Exercises of Dr. William Harvey […] Concerning the Motion of the Heart and Blood. […], London: […] Francis Leach, for Richard Lownes […], →OCLC, page 1:[…] I did almoſt beleeve, that the motion of the Heart vvas knovvn to God alone: […]
* (uncountable) One's feelings and emotions, especially considered as part of one's character.
    She has a cold heart.
** 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion‎, page 266:In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.
** 1943, Katherine Woods, transl., The Little Prince, translation of original by Antoine de Saint Exupéry:Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
** 1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 47:"Do what the heart commands," Tothero says. "The heart is our only guide."
* The seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, etc.; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; usually in a good sense; personality.
    a good, tender, loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart
** c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii:Upon his browes was pourtraid vgly death, / And in his eies the furies of his heart, / That ſhine as Comets, menacing reueng, / And caſts a pale complexion on his cheeks.
** 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XI:Calm and deep peace in this wide air, ⁠These leaves that redden to the fall; ⁠And in my heart, if calm at all, If any calm, a calm despair: […]
* Emotional strength that allows one to continue in difficult situations; courage; spirit; a will to compete.
    Synonyms: bravery, nerve, spirit; see also Thesaurus:courage
    The team lost, but they showed a lot of heart.
** 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:Eve, recovering heart, replied.
** c. 1679, William Temple, Essay:The expelled nations take heart, and when they fled from one country, invaded another.
** 2008, "Rights trampled in rush to deport immigrant workers," Quaker Action (magazine), vol. 89, no. 3, page 8:
    "We provided a lot of brains and a lot of heart to the response when it was needed," says Sandra Sanchez, director of AFSC's Immigrants' Voice Program in Des Moines.
** 2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegrof”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:The result still leaves Wales bottom of the group but in better heart for Tuesday night's trip to face England at Wembley, who are now outright leaders after their 3-0 win in Bulgaria.
** 2016 September 28, Tom English, “Celtic 3–3 Manchester City”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎, BBC Sport:The heart from the home team was immense. Some of them were out on their feet before the end, but they dug in, throwing themselves in front of shots and crosses, surviving.
* Vigorous and efficient activity; power of fertile production; condition of the soil, whether good or bad.
** 1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 52, lines 106–109:Both theſe unhappy Soils the Swain forbears, / And keeps a Sabbath of alternate Years: / That the ſpent Earth may gather heart again; / And, better'd by Ceſſation, bear the Grain.
* (archaic) A term of affectionate or kindly and familiar address.
    Synonyms: honey, sugar; see also Thesaurus:sweetheart
    Listen, dear heart, we must go now.
** c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:My King, my Jove, I speak to thee, my heart!
** 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:Awake, dear heart, awake. Thou hast slept well./Awake.
** 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, pages 9–10:Certain unscrupulous men may call upon you here in your dressing-room. They will lavish you with flowers, with compliments, with phials of Hungary water and methuselahs of the costliest champagne. You must be wary of such men, my hearts, they are not to be trusted.
* (obsolete, except in the phrase "by heart") Memory.
    I know almost every Beatles song by heart.
* (figurative) A wight or being.
** c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:[…] I would outstare the sternest eyes that look, / Outbrave the heart most daring on earth, / Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear, / Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey, […]
* A conventional shape or symbol used to represent the heart, love, or emotion: ♥.
** 1998, Pat Cadigan, Tea From an Empty Cup, page 106:"Aw. Thank you." The Cherub kissed the air between them and sent a small cluster of tiny red hearts at her.
* (card games) A playing card of the suit hearts featuring one or more heart-shaped symbols.
* (cartomancy) The twenty-fourth Lenormand card.
* (figurative) The centre, essence, or core.
    Synonyms: crux, gist; see also Thesaurus:gist
    at the heart of it all
    The wood at the heart of a tree is the oldest.
    Buddhists believe that suffering is right at the heart of all life.
** 1899, Robert Barr, chapter 3, in The Strong Arm:At last she spoke in a low voice, hesitating slightly, nevertheless going with incisive directness into the very heart of the problem.
** 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 150:The narrow streets that twist and turn through the compact heart of Dent are surfaced with cobbles which, in the absence of pavements, spread right across from doorstep to doorstep.
** 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Feros:Arcelia Silva Martinez: Watch out!/Arcelia Silva Martinez: We've got geth in the tower./Fai Dan: Protect the heart of the colony!
** 2011 December 27, Mike Henson, “Norwich 0 - 2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport‎:Norwich's attack centred on a front pair of Steve Morison and Grant Holt, but Younes Kaboul at the heart of the Tottenham defence dominated in the air.

#### Derived terms

* absence makes the heart fonder
* absence makes the heart go yonder
* absence makes the heart grow fonder
* after one's own heart
* all heart
* antiheart
* artichoke heart
* at heart
* athlete's heart
* bare one's heart
* beating heart
* beating-heart transplant
* beauty heart radish
* beefheart
* beheart
* be still my beating heart
* be still my heart
* big heart
* blackheart
* bleeding heart
* bleeding-heart
* bleeding-heart monkey
* bless someone's heart
* braveheart
* break someone's heart
* broken heart
* broken-heart syndrome
* broken heart syndrome
* bullock's heart
* by heart
* carry one's heart on one's sleeve
* carry one's heart upon one's sleeve
* cattleheart
* change of heart
* chicken-heart
* closet of the heart
* close to one's heart
* close to someone's heart
* coconut heart
* cold hands, warm heart
* congenital heart defect
* congenital heart disease
* congestive heart failure
* conversation heart
* coronary heart disease
* cross my heart
* cross my heart and hope to die
* cross one's heart
* dear heart
* dearheart
* depraved-heart murder
* disheart
* dishearten
* do someone's heart good
* drive a stake through its heart
* eat one's heart
* eat one's heart out
* eat someone's heart
* enhearten
* faintheart
* faint heart never won fair lady
* faint of heart
* falseheart
* find it in one's heart
* finger heart
* floating heart
* follow one's heart
* for one's heart
* from the bottom of one's heart
* from the heart
* frosted heart
* gladden someone's heart
* good-hearted
* Green Heart
* greenheart
* halfhearted
* hand heart
* hand on heart
* harden someone's heart
* hard-hearted
* have a heart
* have Jesus in one's heart
* have one's heart in
* have one's heart in one's boots
* have one's heart in the right place
* have one's heart set on
* have one's heart set upon
* have the heart
* heart-ache
* heartache
* heartake
* heart and hand
* heart and soul
* heart as big as Phar Lap
* heart attack
* heart baby
* heart-balm
* heart balm
* heartbeat
* heart beat
* heart block
* heart-blood
* heart bond
* heartbond
* heartbreak
* heart breaker
* heartbreaker
* heart-breaking
* heartbreaking
* heart-breakingly
* heart-breakingness
* heartbroke
* heartbroken
* heart-burn
* heartburn
* heartburned
* heartburning
* heart cake
* heart cam
* heartcare
* heart check
* heart clover
* heartcut
* heartcutting
* heartdeep
* heart disease
* hearten
* heart eyes
* heartface
* heart failure
* heart-failure
* heart-felt
* heartfelt
* heart-free
* heartful
* heartgrief
* heart-hand disease
* heart-healthy
* heartical
* heartistic
* heartland
* heart-leaf
* heartleaf
* heart-leaved poison
* heartless
* heartlet
* heartlike
* heartline
* heart line
* heartling
* heart-lung machine
* heartly
* heartman
* heart massage
* heartmate
* heart murmur
* heart muscle
* heart neckline
* heart note
* heartnut
* heart of glass
* heart of gold
* heart of grace
* heart of hearts
* heart of oak
* heart of palm
* heart of stone
* heartpea
* heart pine
* heart-pounding
* heart-poundingly
* heartquake
* heart rate
* heart rate monitor
* heartrending
* heart-rending
* heart-rendingly
* heart rot
* heartrot
* heart sac
* hearts and flowers
* hearts and minds
* hearts and rounds
* heartscape
* heartsearching
* heart-searching
* heartsease
* heartseed
* heart-service
* heart-shaped
* heart-shattering
* heartsick
* heart smart
* heartsome
* heartsong
* hearts on sleeves
* heartsore
* heart sound
* heartspent
* heart-spent
* heart-splitting
* heart starter
* heart-stirring
* heartstopper
* heart-stopper
* heartstopping
* heart-stopping
* heart-stoppingly
* heartstricken
* heartstring
* heart strings
* heartstrings
* heartstruck
* heart surgeon
* heart sweetbread
* heartswelling
* heartthrob
* heart-throbbing
* heart-thumping
* heart to heart
* heart-to-heart
* heart-touchin'
* heart-touching
* heart urchin
* heart valve
* heart-warmer
* heartwarming
* heart-warming
* heartwater
* heart wheel
* heart-whole
* heartwhole
* heartwise
* heartwood
* heartworm
* heartworthy
* heartwrenching
* heart-wrenching
* heart-wrenchingly
* hearty
* heavy heart
* hemp heart
* holiday heart
* holiday heart syndrome
* home is where the heart is
* inheart
* irritable heart
* lay to heart
* lie at one's heart
* lie at someone's heart
* lionheart
* Lionheart
* lonely-heart
* lonely-hearts
* lose heart
* lose one's heart
* love heart
* nonheart
* one's heart bleeds
* one's heart in one's mouth
* one's heart in one's throat
* one's heart is not in it
* open-hearted
* open-heart surgery
* open one's heart
* out of heart
* out of the goodness of one's heart
* oxheart
* palmheart
* pour one's heart out
* pour out one's heart
* pseudoheart
* Purple Heart
* purpleheart
* purple heart
* put one's heart in
* put one's heart on one's sleeve
* put the heart across one
* right-hearted
* round heart disease
* sea heart
* set one's heart on
* set one's heart upon
* sick at heart
* single-hearted
* soldier's heart
* someone's heart is in
* someone's heart out
* steal someone's heart
* strike at the heart of
* sweetheart
* take heart
* take to heart
* Texas heart shot
* the heart wants what it wants
* the heart wants what the heart wants
* the way to a man's heart is through his stomach
* tobacco heart
* two-heart
* unheart
* warm someone's heart
* warm the cockles of someone's heart
* wear one's heart on one's sleeve
* wear one's heart upon one's sleeve
* white-heart
* wholehearted
* win someone's heart
* with all of one's heart
* with all one's heart
* xenoheart
* yellowheart
* young at heart

#### Descendants

* Torres Strait Creole: at
* → Bengali: হার্ট (harṭ)
* → Cantonese: heart
* → Cebuano: Heart
* → Irish: hart
* → Japanese: ハート (hāto); ハツ (hatsu) (from hearts)
* → Korean: 하트 (hateu)
* → Tagalog: Heart

#### Translations
### Verb

heart (third-person singular simple present hearts, present participle hearting, simple past and past participle hearted)
* (transitive, humorous, informal) To be fond of. Often bracketed or abbreviated with a heart symbol. [from late 20th c.]
    Synonyms: love, less than three
** 2001 April 6, Michael Baldwin, “The Heart Has Its Reasons”, in Commonweal:We're but the sum of all our terrors until we heart the dove.
** 2006, Susan Reinhardt, Bulldog doesn't have to rely on the kindness of strangers to draw attention, Citizen-Times.com
    I guess at this point we were supposed to feel elated she'd come to her senses and decided she hearts dogs after all.
** 2008 January 30, “Cheese in our time: Blur and Oasis to end feud with a Stilton”, in The Guardian, London:The further we delve into this "story", the more convinced we become of one thing: We heart the Goss.
** 2008 July 25, "The Media Hearts Obama?", On The Media, National Public Radio
** 2019 July 4, John Leland, “Why This Famous Graphic Designer, at 90, Still ♥s NY”, in New York Times‎:Lots of people say they love their hometown, but no one hearts NY quite like Milton Glaser.
* (transitive) To mark a comment, post, reply, etc., with the heart symbol (❤).
    Synonym: love
    Coordinate terms: like, unlike
    She hearted my photos of the kids playing with the dogs.
* (transitive, obsolete) To give heart to; to hearten; to encourage.
** c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:[…] My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.
* (transitive, masonry) To fill an interior with rubble, as a wall or a breakwater.
* (intransitive, agriculture, botany) To form a dense cluster of leaves, a heart, especially of lettuce or cabbage.

#### Translations
### See also

* <3, ♥, ❤, 🫀
Suits in English · suits (see also: cards, playing cards) (layout · text) :
| hearts | diamonds | spades | clubs |

### References

* 1 2 Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “heart”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

### Further reading

* heart on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

### Anagrams

* Erath, rehat, ather-, Earth, Herta, Harte, rathe, Rathe, earth, th'are, thare, hater, Herat, Taher, Terah, Thera

## Chinese
### Etymology

From English heart.

### Pronunciation

* Cantonese (Jyutping): haat$^1$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: haat$^1$
*** Yale: hāat
*** Cantonese Pinyin: haat$^7$
*** Guangdong Romanization: had$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /haːt̚⁵/

### Noun

heart
* (Hong Kong Cantonese, figuratively) passion; determination (Classifier: 個／个 c)
    有heart [Cantonese] ― jau$^5$ haat$^1$ [Jyutping] ― passionate
    冇heart [Cantonese] ― mou$^5$ haat$^1$ [Jyutping] ― without passion