hug
pronunciation
How to pronounce hug in British English:
UK [hʌɡ]
How to pronounce hug in American English:
US [hʌɡ]
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- Noun:
- a tight or amorous embrace
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- Verb:
- hug, usually with fondness
- fit closely or tightly
Word Origin
- hug
- hug: [16] Etymologically, hug seems to convey the notion of ‘consolation, solicitude’; the expression of such feelings by clasping someone in one’s arms is apparently a secondary semantic development. The word is of Scandinavian origin, and is probably related to, if not borrowed from Old Norse hugga ‘comfort, console’. This was descended from a prehistoric Germanic *hugjan, which also produced Old English hogian ‘think, consider, be solicitous’.
- hug (v.)
- 1560s, hugge "to embrace," of unknown origin; perhaps from Old Norse hugga "to comfort," from hugr "courage, mood," from Proto-Germanic *hugjan, related to Old English hycgan "to think, consider," Gothic hugs "mind, soul, thought." Other have noted the similarity in some senses to German hegen "to foster, cherish," originally "to enclose with a hedge." Related: Hugged; hugging. The noun was originally (1610s) a hold in wrestling. Meaning "affectionate embrace" is from 1650s.
Example
- 1. To a child a hug says so many things .
- 2. I lean over and hug him with one awkward arm .
- 3. We sit on the floor and hug the children .
- 4. I used to hug one in bed instead of a teddy .
- 5. Then he surprised the normally aloof nixon by giving him a bear hug .