hale
LowFormal, Literary, or Archaic
Definition
Meaning
(Of an old person) strong and healthy.
Generally robust, vigorous, and free from infirmity, especially when pertaining to older age. Also used as a verb meaning to compel someone to go somewhere.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most common in the fixed phrase 'hale and hearty,' often describing elderly people in good health. The verb 'to hale' (to drag, summon) is legally archaic but appears in phrases like 'hale into court.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the adjective similarly. The verb 'to hale' (as in 'hale into court') is more recognisable in American legal contexts, though still rare.
Connotations
In both, the adjective carries a positive, somewhat old-fashioned or rustic connotation.
Frequency
The adjective is rare and formulaic in both dialects, primarily surviving in 'hale and hearty.' The verb is extremely rare in everyday use in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ADJ (be) ~ADJ: ~ and heartyV: ~ somebody into something (e.g., court)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hale and hearty”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, possibly in historical or literary studies.
Everyday
Limited to the phrase 'hale and hearty,' often used with a slightly humorous or affectionate tone about elderly relatives.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The sheriff threatened to hale the suspect before a magistrate.
American English
- He was haled into federal court on the charge of fraud.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'Hale' is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'Hale' is not standardly used as an adverb.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandma is very hale. She walks every day.
- We visited my hale and hearty grandfather last weekend.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Hale' rhymes with 'pale'—the opposite! A hale person is NOT pale and sickly.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS STRENGTH / SOLIDITY (e.g., robust, sound, hale).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'hail' (град, приветствовать).
- The common Russian equivalent for the core meaning is 'крепкий' or 'бодрый' (especially for the elderly).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a common synonym for 'healthy' for young people (it's strongly associated with old age).
- Misspelling as 'hail'.
Practice
Quiz
In which phrase is 'hale' most commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. Its main use is in the fixed, somewhat old-fashioned phrase 'hale and hearty.'
It's unusual. 'Hale' strongly connotes the robust health of someone who is old enough that frailty might be expected. For a young person, 'healthy,' 'fit,' or 'robust' are more natural.
In the phrase 'hale and hearty,' they are near-synonyms emphasizing robust health. Individually, 'hale' focuses on freedom from infirmity (especially in old age), while 'hearty' can also suggest enthusiasm, warmth, or substantiality (e.g., a hearty meal, a hearty laugh).
It is archaic outside of specific legal or historical contexts, such as 'hale into court,' where it means to compel someone's appearance.