herry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Archaic / Obsolete / Very LowLiterary, Historical, Poetic
Quick answer
What does “herry” mean?
To harry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To harry; to harass, trouble, or despoil.
An archaic verb meaning to plunder, ravage, or attack repeatedly. It can also mean to urge or incite someone to action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference, as the word is obsolete. Both UK and US readers would encounter it only in historical contexts.
Connotations
Purely historical/literary; evokes medieval conflict or poetic diction.
Frequency
Effectively zero in modern usage. Its appearance is restricted to academic study of historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “herry” in a Sentence
[Subject] herry [Object] (e.g., The armies herried the countryside.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “herry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Scots would often herry the English borderlands.
- He read a verse describing how the Vikings did herry the coast.
American English
- In the historical novel, the militia was ordered to herry the enemy's supply lines.
- The poet used 'herry' to evoke a sense of ancient conflict.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary analysis of pre-18th century texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herry”
- Using it in modern writing.
- Confusing it with 'hurry'.
- Pronouncing it like 'hairy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic and obsolete variant of 'harry'. It is not used in contemporary English outside of historical or literary studies.
It is pronounced /ˈhɛri/ (like 'HEH-ree'), identical to the modern word 'herry' as a historical variant.
Only if you are writing about historical linguistics or quoting directly from an old text. In all other contexts, use the modern equivalent 'harry', 'harass', or 'plunder'.
There is no difference in meaning; 'herry' is simply an older spelling variant of 'harry'. 'Harry' is the form that survived into Modern English.
To harry.
Herry is usually literary, historical, poetic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'herry' as the old way to say 'harry' – both start with 'H' and mean to harass.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR IS PLUNDERING (to herry is to engage in aggressive, destructive action).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'herry'?