Antonyms for hem

Grammar : Noun

Spell : hem

Phonetic Transcription : hɛm

Definition of hem

Origin : Old English hem "a border," especially of cloth or a garment, from Proto-Germanic *hamjam (cf. Old Norse hemja "to bridle, curb," Swedish hämma "to stop, restrain," Old Frisian hemma "to hinder," Middle Dutch, German hemmen "to hem in, stop, hinder"), from PIE *kem- "to compress." Apparently the same root yielded Old English hamm, common in place names (where it means "enclosure, land hemmed in by water or high ground, land in a river bend"). In Middle English, hem also was a symbol of pride or ostentation.
If þei wer þe first þat schuld puplysch þese grete myracles of her mayster, men myth sey of hem, as Crist ded of þe Pharisees, þat þei magnified her owne hemmys. [John Capgrave, "Life of Saint Gilbert of Sempringham," 1451]

noun border, edge

Example sentences :

And it is, I cannot but confess it, it is too often—hem—acceptable.
Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens

"Good as new, almost," she said, looking critically at the hem.
Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit

What, all the way to the well and back, nothing but hem, and clear his throat?
Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth

Ten golden pieces are sewn into the hem of your under doublet.
Extract from : « Micah Clarke » by Arthur Conan Doyle

Then he fell before her and, for a second time, kissed the hem of her robe.
Extract from : « The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893 » by Various

Marilou dabbed the moisture from her forehead with the hem of her dress.
Extract from : « One Martian Afternoon » by Tom Leahy

The hypocrite caught the hem of her cloak, and bore it to his lips.
Extract from : « Love-at-Arms » by Raphael Sabatini

Then hem the other edge, and conceal the stitches with silk braid that will wash.
Extract from : « The Ladies' Work-Table Book » by Anonymous

Hem all round, with a broad hem, three-fourths of a nail deep.
Extract from : « The Ladies' Work-Table Book » by Anonymous

To me he seemed to be stooping low as if to touch the hem of her garment.
Extract from : « A Set of Six » by Joseph Conrad

Synonyms for hem

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019