hector
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈhɛktə//
- United States//ˈhɛktɚ//
Sometimes in the form Hector: a blustering, noisy, turbulent fellow; a braggart, bully.
noun
- 1
Sometimes in the form Hector: a blustering, noisy, turbulent fellow; a braggart, bully.
Luc[ia]. VVhat would you do you dowty Hectors? / Kick. Hectors! upon my honour, if we can find them out, we'll beat your Gallants for this. / […] Luc. Advant, you Hectors, we are not fit for you: […]
Etymology
From Hector (“in Greek and Roman mythology, a character in Homer’s Iliad who is the greatest warrior of Troy”), from Late Middle English Hector (“warrior with the qualities of Hector”), from Latin Hectōr or Ancient Greek Ἕκτωρ (Héktōr), from ἕκτωρ (héktōr, “holding fast”), from ἔχειν (ékhein), present active infinitive of ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, own, possess; to hold”), from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- (“to hold; to overpower”). The verb is derived from the noun.
verb
- 1
To dominate or intimidate in a blustering way; to bully, to domineer.
Theſe Nimrods (ſay they) grew great by the Strength of their Limbs and their Vices, engraved their Murthers upon their Shields, and Hectored all the Little and Peaceable People into Peaſantry.
It was a common thing for an honeſt Man, when he came Home at Night, to find another Fellow domineering in his Family, hectoring his Servants, calling for Supper, and pretending to go to Bed with his Wife.
The complaint alleges that on or about February 5 and March 8, Respondent, by Mrs. Flynn, violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by hectoring employees for seeking union representation.
Skyler, um... this is my money... and why are we having this conversation? You're no longer a part of my life [...] so I don't understand why you're hectoring me about this.
- 2
To behave like a hector or bully; to bluster, to swagger; to bully.
[…] I was ſent for by the marſhall, huffed and hectored ſtrangely, thretned, &c., in fine, muſte give bonds to the good behaviour; I refuſed, […]
Leave me alone! Will you leave me alone! Hectored by women all my life—hectored by women—first one, then another. I won't stand it—I won't stand it—
I will be the sole judge of what I think is effective and of what I should do. I will stick by my judgment, and I will not be lectured or hectored by the hon. Gentleman or anyone else.
Forms
- plural
- hectors
- past tense
- hectored
- past participle
- hectored
- present participle
- hectoring
- third person singular
- hectors
hector · Sometimes in the form Hector: a blustering, noisy, turbulent fellow; a braggart, bully.
Hector · A Trojan hero in Homer's Iliad.hedge · A thicket of bushes or other shrubbery, especially one…Hedge · A surname.