different between heroine vs heroics

English

Etymology

Via Latin her??na from late Ancient Greek ?????? (h?r??n?) (2nd century), a feminine equivalent of ???? (h?r?s, “hero, demigod”), equivalent to hero +? -ine.

• English from 1650. The sense of "female lead character" is from 1715.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h??o??n/, /?h??o??n/
• Homophone: heroin

Noun

heroine (plural heroines, masculine hero)

1. A female hero.
2. A female lead character.

Usage notes

• In sense 1, hero, the masculine of heroine, is sometimes used, though it is still acceptable to use the feminine.

She is an American hero (or heroine).

• Like feminine nouns formed with the suffix -ess, heroine refers only to females, whereas hero can refer to both males and females.

Who is your favorite hero? (answer can refer to either sex)

Who is your favorite heroine? (answer can refer only to females)

Synonyms

• shero
• hera (uncommon)

Derived terms

• antiheroine
• heroinic
• heroinism
• superheroine

Translations

English

Noun

heroics pl (plural only)

1. The actions of a hero.
   • 2013, Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert's debut goal gives England victory over Scotland (in The Guardian, 14 August 2013)[1]

     Hart, for one, will not remember the night for Lambert's heroics. Morrison, not closed down quickly enough, struck his shot well but England's No1 will be aghast at the way it struck his gloves then skidded off his knees and into the net.

   • RAUBENHEIMER NO v TRUSTEES, JOHANNES BREDENKAMP TRUST, AND OTHERS 2006 (1) SA 124 (C)

     The original cottage was said to appear on a well-known painting, dating back to 1863, of the American pirate ship, the Alabama, leaving Table Bay. It was also believed to feature in the story of the heroic Wolraad Woltemade who, in 1773, lost his life and that of his horse after valiantly saving 14 shipwrecked persons. This was said to have taken place within sight and full view of the house. The second respondent called this historical link into question, averring that the house was probably not yet built in 1773 while Woltemade's heroics were believed to have taken place in the vicinity of the Salt River mouth, some 10 km away.

2. (US, medicine) Emergency intervention to save a patient's life.
   • 1976, Ronald E. Alexander, Lawrence P. Wilkins, Medical-legal dilemmas in the care of the critically ill

     Of if we have an elderly person who is unconscious and not responding, we discuss using heroics with the family, and they often say no heroics.

   • 1988, American College of Legal Medicine, Legal Medicine: Legal Dynamics of Medical Encounters (page 122)

     Her daughters argue that no heroics should be used to prolong her life.

   • 1998, George Watson, Emily Watson, The Calling: A Journey on the Path of Parent Care (page 29)

     No Heroics. Do not use respirators, ventilators or administer medication other than those medications necessary to prevent infection, provide comfort or alleviate pain.

3. (dated) Extravagant phrases; bombast.

heroics

1. plural of heroic

Related terms

• hero
• heroic medicine
• heroine
• heroism

Anagrams

• coheirs, hircose, sheroic

Catalan

Adjective

heroics

1. masculine plural of heroic