— herolike , adj.
/hear"oh/ , n. , pl. heroes; for 5 also heros .
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Class. Myth.
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
5. See hero sandwich .
6. the bread or roll used in making a hero sandwich.
[ 1605-15; back formation from ME heroes (pl.) heros (sing.), heroes (pl.) héros, héroes ]
Syn. 3. lead, star.
Ant. 3. villain, heavy.