heigh

n. [ Written also hight. ] [ OE. heighte, heght, heighthe, AS. heáhðu, hēhðu fr. heah high; akin to D. hoogte, Sw. höjd, Dan. höide, Icel. hæð, Goth. hauhiþa. See High. ] 1. The condition of being high; elevated position. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold the height of the stars, how high they are! Job xxii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 an animal, especially of a man; stature. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Goliath's ] height was six cubits and a span. 1 Sam. xvii. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Degree of latitude either north or south. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Guinea lieth to the north sea, in the same height as Peru to the south. Abp. Abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is elevated; an eminence; a hill or mountain; as, Alpine heights. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts. R. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

All would in his power hold, all make his subjects. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Progress toward eminence; grade; degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

Social duties are carried to greater heights, and enforced with stronger motives by the principles of our religion. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

My grief was at the height before thou camest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

On height, aloud. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] [ He ] spake these same words, all on hight. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Written also highten. ] [ imp. & p. p. Heightened p. pr. & vb. n. Heightening. ] 1. To make high; to raise higher; to elevate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To carry forward; to advance; to increase; to augment; to aggravate; to intensify; to render more conspicuous; -- used of things, good or bad; as, to heighten beauty; to heighten a flavor or a tint. “To heighten our confusion.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

An aspect of mystery which was easily heightened to the miraculous. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also hightener. ] One who, or that which, heightens. [ 1913 Webster ]