adj
Uncommon
hale
hayl
Hale (adj) means Healthy and strong, especially for someone's age. Example: “Even at ninety, her grandfather remained hale and active.”
adj
1
Healthy and strong, especially for someone's age.
"Even at ninety, her grandfather remained hale and active."
verb
1
To pull or drag someone forcibly.
"They will hale the King to Paris, and have him under their eye."
— Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety (1992)
"The guards haled the prisoner before the judge."
"As well hale a man to court for violation of an unenacted law."
— Herbert Weir Smyth, IV. Prometheus (1924)
How to use hale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn good health and sturdy, especially for one's age; often paired with "hearty" in the set phrase "hale and hearty."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "hail," the ice pellets or the greeting.
When to use it
Somewhat old-fashioned or literary; rarely used outside the fixed phrase "hale and hearty."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hale and hearty
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- hales
- Past tense
- haled
- Comparative
- haler
- Superlative
- halest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Even at ninety, her grandfather remained _____ and active.
Etymology
From Old English hal, meaning "whole" or "healthy" — the same ancient root that gave us the word "whole."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hale
See all rhymes for hale →Frequently asked questions
What does “hale” mean?
The word “hale” means healthy and strong, especially for someone's age. In plain terms, in good health and sturdy, especially for one's age; often paired with "hearty" in the set phrase "hale and hearty.".
How do you pronounce “hale”?
“Hale” is pronounced hayl (/heɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hale” in a sentence?
Here is “hale” used in a sentence: “Even at ninety, her grandfather remained hale and active.”
What part of speech is “hale”?
Depending on how it is used, “hale” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “hale” come from?
The word “hale” comes from Old English. From Old English hal, meaning "whole" or "healthy" — the same ancient root that gave us the word "whole.".
Is “hale” a common word?
“Hale” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hale” have?
“Hale” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: healthy and strong, especially for someone's age.
What is the difference between hale and hail?
Hale and hail are homophones, sounding alike but with different meanings and spellings. Hale describes being healthy and strong, especially for someone's age, while hail refers to frozen precipitation or to greeting/calling out to someone.
Can hale be used as a verb?
Yes, as a verb, hale means to pull or drag someone forcibly, a less common usage distinct from the adjective describing good health. This verb sense appears mainly in older or literary English.
