hale

[ heyl ]

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adjective,hal·er, hal·est.

free from disease or infirmity; robust; vigorous: hale and hearty men in the prime of life.

Origin of hale

First recorded before 1000; Middle English (northern and Scottish); Old English hāl “sound, uninjured”; see origin at whole,heal

Other words for hale

sound, healthy

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Opposites for hale

sickly

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Other words from hale

haleness, noun

Other definitions for hale (2 of 4)

hale²

[ heyl ]

verb (used with object),haled, hal·ing.

to compel (someone) to go: to hale a man into court.
to haul; pull.

Origin of hale

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English hal(l)en, hailen “to drag, pull,” from Old French haler, from Germanic; compare Dutch halen “to pull, fetch”; akin to Old English geholian “to get, obtain,” German holen “to fetch”; see also haul

Other words from hale

haler, noun

Other definitions for hale (3 of 4)

hale³

[ hah-ley ]

noun

(in Hawaii) a simple thatched-roof dwelling.

Origin of hale

First recorded in 1885–90; from Hawaiian; literally, “house, hall, building”

Other definitions for Hale (4 of 4)

Hale

[ heyl ]

noun

Edward Everett, 1822–1909, U.S. clergyman and author.
George El·ler·y [el-uh-ree], /ˈɛl ə ri/, 1868–1938, U.S. astronomer.

Sir Matthew, 1609–76, British jurist: Lord Chief Justice 1671–76.
Nathan, 1755–76, American soldier hanged as a spy by the British during the American Revolution.
Sarah Jo·se·pha [joh-see-fuh], /dʒoʊˈsi fə/, 1788–1879, U.S. editor and author.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hale in a sentence

hale and Hardy are continuing to study different types of sensing cells in fins and their arrangement.
A fish’s fins may be as sensitive to touch as fingertips | Carolyn Wilke | November 3, 2020 | Science News
Marius stood still, a frown between his eyes haled thither by the mention of La Vauvraye.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
Accordingly 574 the officers shackled him and pinioning him, haled him along in irons and entered the city with him.
Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp | John Payne
It seemed darkly possible that she had cited a precedent applicable to every case where she was haled before a court.
A Hoosier Chronicle | Meredith Nicholson
But no man seized him by the hand, or haled him into any public house to toast his safe return.
Cursed | George Allan England

Jack Beckley was haled to court on a dray, too oblivious of everything to answer any charge.
Watch Yourself Go By | Al. G. Field

British Dictionary definitions for hale (1 of 3)

hale¹

/ (heɪl) /

adjective

healthy and robust (esp in the phrase hale and hearty)
Scot and Northern English dialect whole

Origin of hale

Old English hæl whole

Derived forms of hale

haleness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for hale (2 of 3)

hale²

/ (heɪl) /

verb

(tr) to pull or drag; haul

Origin of hale

C13: from Old French haler, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German halōn to fetch, Old English geholian to acquire

Derived forms of hale

haler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Hale (3 of 3)

Hale

/ (heɪl) /

noun

George Ellery. 1868–1938, US astronomer: undertook research into sunspots and invented the spectroheliograph
Sir Matthew. 1609–76, English judge and scholar; Lord Chief Justice (1671–76)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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