hector
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hector¹
- /ˈhɛktə/ UK
- /ˈhɛktɚ/ US
Rhymes with -ɛktə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Hector (“in Greek and Roman mythology, a character in Homer’s Iliad who is the greatest warrior of Troy”), from Late Middle English Hector (“warrior with the qualities of Hector”), from Latin Hectōr or Ancient Greek Ἕκτωρ (Héktōr), from ἕκτωρ (héktōr, “holding fast”), from ἔχειν (ékhein), present active infinitive of ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, own, possess; to hold”), from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- (“to hold; to overpower”).
The verb is derived from the noun.
noun hectors
- Sometimes in the form Hector: a blustering, noisy, turbulent fellow; a braggart, bully. Luc[ia]. VVhat would you do you dowty Hectors? / Kick. Hectors! upon my honour, if we can find them out, we'll beat your Gallants for this. / […] Luc. Advant, you Hectors, we are not fit for you: […]
verb hectors · hectoring · hectored · hectour
- To dominate or intimidate in a blustering way; to bully, to domineer. Theſe Nimrods (ſay they) grew great by the Strength of their Limbs and their Vices, engraved their Murthers upon their Shields, and Hectored all the Little and Peaceable People into Peaſantry.
-
To behave like a hector or bully; to bluster, to swagger; to bully.
[…] I was ſent for by the marſhall, huffed and hectored ſtrangely, thretned, &c., in fine, muſte give bonds to the good behaviour; I refuſed, […]
Similar: huff, huff and puff
Hector²
- /ˈhɛktə/ UK
- /ˈhɛktɚ/ US
Rhymes with -ɛktə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Latin Hectōr or Ancient Greek Ἕκτωρ (Héktōr), from ἕκτωρ (héktōr, “holding fast”), from ἔχω (ékhō, “to have, hold”), from Proto-Indo-European *seǵʰ- (“to hold; to overpower”).
Sometimes used as an anglicization of various Scottish Gaelic names, including Eachann and Eochaid.
The thundercloud cluster was named by pilots during the Second World War.
proper noun Hectour
- A Trojan hero in Homer's Iliad.
- A male given name from Ancient Greek.
- A town in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.
- A settlement in the West Coast region, New Zealand.
- A town in Pope County, Arkansas.
- A locality in Clay County, Kentucky.
- A city in Renville County, Minnesota.
- A town in Schuyler County, New York, named after Hector Ely.
- An unincorporated community in Putnam County, Ohio, named after Hector Havemeyer.
- A township in Potter County, Pennsylvania.
- A thundercloud cluster that forms nearly every afternoon from approximately September to March near the Tiwi Islands of Australia, reaching a height and width of 20 kilometers.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: browbeat, bullyrag, ballyrag, bully, push around, strong-arm, boss around, harry, tease, slaying, taming, larry, jacques, neri, intimidate, badger
Translations
Every language
verb to dominate or intimidate
| Español | intimidar |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | einschüchtern |
verb to behave like a hector or bully
| Español | tiranizar |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | mobben, schikanieren |
Talk about this word "hector." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/hector. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. hector. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/hector "hector." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/hector.Cite this
@misc{hector_2026,
title = {hector},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/hector},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
