hard

hard
hard (adj.) O.E. heard "solid, firm, not soft," also "severe, rigorous, cruel," from P.Gmc. *hardu- (Cf. O.S., Du. hard, O.N. harðr "hard," O.H.G. harto "extremely, very," Ger. hart, Goth. hardus "hard"), from PIE *kortu-, (Cf. Gk. kratos "strength," kratys "strong"), from root *kar-/*ker- "hard." Meaning "difficult to do" is from c.1200. The adverb sense was also present in O.E.
Hard of hearing preserves obsolete M.E. sense of "having difficulty in doing something." Hard liquor is 1879, Amer.Eng. (hard drink is from 1810; hard cider is from 1789), and this probably led to hard drugs (1955). Hard facts is from 1887; hard news is from 1938. Hard copy (as opposed to computer record) is from 1964; hard disk is from 1978. Hard up (1610s) is originally nautical, of steering (slang sense of "short of money" is from 1821), as is hard and fast (1680s), of a ship on shore. Hard times "period of poverty" is from 1705.
Hard money (1706) is specie, as opposed to paper. Hence 19c. U.S. hard (n.) "one who advocates the use of metallic money as the national currency" (1844). To play hard to get is from 1945. Hard rock as a pop music style recorded from 1967.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • hard — hard …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Hard-Fi — at the 2006 Hurricane Festival in Germany Background information Origin Staines, Surrey, England …   Wikipedia

  • Hard — (h[aum]rd), a. [Compar. {Harder} ( [ e]r); superl. {Hardest}.] [OE. hard, heard, AS. heard; akin to OS. & D. hard, G. hart, OHG. herti, harti, Icel. har[eth]r, Dan. haard, Sw. h[*a]rd, Goth. hardus, Gr. kraty s strong, ka rtos, kra tos, strength …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hard — Hard …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • hard — [härd] adj. [ME < OE heard, akin to Ger hart < IE base * kar , hard > Gr karyon, nut, kratos, strength] 1. not easily dented, pierced, cut, or crushed; resistant to pressure; firm and unyielding to the touch; rigid; solid and compact 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • Hard — Hard, adv. [OE. harde, AS. hearde.] 1. With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly. [1913 Webster] And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince. Dryden. [1913 Webster] My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself. Shak. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hard by — Hard Hard, adv. [OE. harde, AS. hearde.] 1. With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly. [1913 Webster] And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince. Dryden. [1913 Webster] My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself. Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hard up — Hard Hard, adv. [OE. harde, AS. hearde.] 1. With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly. [1913 Webster] And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince. Dryden. [1913 Webster] My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself. Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hard — ► ADJECTIVE 1) solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced. 2) requiring or demonstrating a great deal of endurance or effort; difficult. 3) (of a person) not showing any signs of weakness; tough. 4) (of information or a subject… …   English terms dictionary

  • Hard FM — Origines stylistiques Glam metal Hard rock Heavy metal Origines culturelles …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hard — «Hard» 200px Sencillo de Rihanna junto a Young Jeezy del álbum Rated R Publicación 10 de noviembre de 2009 Formato Sencillo en CD descarga digital Género(s) Hip Hop …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”