From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Heavy \Heav"y\, a. [Compar. {Heavier}; superl. {Heaviest}.] [OE.
hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG.
hebig, hevig, Icel. h["o]figr, h["o]fugr. 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.
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2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure
or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy
yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc.
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The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod.
--1 Sam. v. 6.
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The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make.
--Shak.
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Sent hither to impart the heavy news. --Wordsworth.
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Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence.
--Shak.
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3. Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened;
bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care,
grief, pain, disappointment.
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The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were.
--Chapman.
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A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
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4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate,
stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the
like; a heavy writer or book.
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Whilst the heavy plowman snores. --Shak.
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Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. --Dryden.
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Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear.
--Is. lix. 1.
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5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm,
cannonade, and the like.
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6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder.
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But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more.
--Byron.
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7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the
sky.
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8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a
heavy road, soil, and the like.
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9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread.
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10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not
easily digested; -- said of food.
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11. Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other
liquors.
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12. With child; pregnant. [R.]
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{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}.
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Note: Heavy is used in composition to form many words which
need no special explanation; as, heavy-built,
heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc.
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