Category:Height

Height, n. [Written also hight.] Etym: [OE. heighte, heght, heighthe, AS. heáh, fr. heah high; akin to D. hoogte, Sw. höjd, Dan. höide, Icel. hæ, Goth. hauhipa. See High.]

1. The condition of being high; elevated position. Behold the height of the stars, how high they are! Job xxii. 12.

2. The distance to which anything rises above its foot, above that on which in stands, above the earth, or above the level of the sea; altitude; the measure upward from a surface, as the floor or the ground, of animal, especially of a man; stature. Bacon. [Goliath's] height was six cubits and a span. 1 Sam. xvii. 4.

3. Degree of latitude either north or south. [Obs.] Guinea lieth to the north sea, in the same height as Peru to the south. Abp. Abbot.

4. That which is elevated; an eminence; a hill or mountain; as, Alpine heights. Dryden.

5. Elevation in excellence of any kind, as in power, learning, arts; also, an advanced degree of social rank; preëminence or distinction in society; prominence. Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts. R. Browning. All would in his power hold, all make his subjects. Chapman.

6. Progress toward eminence; grade; degree. Social duties are carried to greater heights, and enforced with stronger motives by the principles of our religion. Addison.

7. Utmost degree in extent; extreme limit of energy or condition; as, the height of a fever, of passion, of madness, of folly; the height of a tempest. My grief was at the height before thou camest. Shak. On height, aloud. [Obs.] [He] spake these same words, all on hight. Chaucer.