King James Bible Dictionary

HERS, pronoun hurz, pronoun fem. possessive; as, this house is hers that is, this is the house of her. But perhaps it would be more correct to consider hers as a substitute for the noun and adjective, in the nominative case. Of the two houses, hers is the best, that is, her house is the best.

HERSCHEL, noun her'shel. A planet discovered by Dr. herschel in 1781.

HERSE, noun hers.

1. In fortification, a lattice or portcullis in the form of a harrow, set with iron spikes. It is hung by a rope fastened to a moulinet, and when a gate is broken, it is let down to obstruct the passage. It is called also a sarrasin or cataract, and when it consists of straight stakes without cross-pieces, it is called orgues.

HERSE is also a harrow, used for a chevaux de frise, and laid in the way or in breaches, with the points up, to obstruct or incommode the march of an enemy.

1. A carriage for bearing corpses to the grave. It is a frame only, or a box, as in England, borne on wheels.

2. A temporary monument set over a grave. [Unusual and not legitimate.]

3. A funeral eulogy. [Not used.]

HERSE, verb transitive hers. To put on or in a herse

1. To carry to the grave.

HERSELF', pronoun [her and self.] This denotes a female, the subject of discourse before mentioned, and is either in the nominative or objective case. In the nominative it usually follows she, and is added for the sake of emphasis, or emphatical distinction; as, she herself will bear the blame.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself Exodus 2:5.

1. Having the command of herself; mistress of her rational powers, judgment or temper. The woman was deranged, but she is now herself again. She has come to herself

2. In her true character; as, the woman acts like herself

HERSELIKE, adjective hers'like. Funereal; suitable to funerals.

HERS'ILLON, noun [from herse.] In the military art, a plank or beam, whose sides are set with spikes or nails, to incommode and retard the march of an enemy.