Heav"y (?), a. Having the
heaves.
Heav"y (?), a.
[Compar. Heavier (?);
superl. Heaviest.] [OE. hevi, AS.
hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG.
hebig, hevig, Icel. höfigr,
höfugr. See Heave.] 1. Heaved
or lifted with labor; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a
heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in extent, quantity, or
effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; a heavy
failure; heavy business transactions, etc.; often implying
strength; as, a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a
heavy draught.
2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive;
hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as,
heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news,
etc.
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of
Ashdod.
1 Sam. v. 6.
The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to
make.
Shak.
Sent hither to impart the heavy
news.
Wordsworth.
Trust him not in matter of heavy
consequence.
Shak.
3. Laden with that which is weighty;
encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or
with care, grief, pain, disappointment.
The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council
were.
Chapman.
A light wife doth make a heavy
husband.
Shak.
4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless,
dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners,
style, and the like; a heavy writer or book.
Whilst the heavy plowman snores.
Shak.
Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind.
Dryden.
Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not
hear.
Is. lix. 1.
5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a
heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like.
6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as,
heavy thunder.
But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once
more.
Byron.
7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain;
gloomy; -- said of the sky.
8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said
of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like.
9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy
bread.
10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the
stomach; not easily digested; -- said of food.
11. Having much body or strength; -- said of
wines, or other liquors.
12. With child; pregnant. [R.]
Heavy artillery. (Mil.)
(a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp.
siege, garrison, and seacoast guns. (b)
Troops which serve heavy guns. -- Heavy
cavalry. See under Cavalry. --
Heavy fire (Mil.), a continuous or
destructive cannonading, or discharge of small arms. --
Heavy metal (Mil.), large guns carrying
balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns. --
Heavy metals. (Chem.) See under
Metal. -- Heavy weight, in
wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the heaviest of the
classes into which contestants are divided. Cf. Feather
weight (c), under Feather.
&fist; Heavy is used in composition to form many words
which need no special explanation; as, heavy-built,
heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc.
Heav"y, adv. Heavily; -- sometimes
used in composition; as, heavy-laden.
Heav"y, v. t. To make heavy.
[Obs.] Wyclif.
