Word of the Day: Hound

hound  

hound / hound

noun

1. any of several breeds of dog commonly used for hunting, often having large, droopy ears

Hares are caught with hounds, fools with praise, and women with gold.

German Proverb

2. any dog

Hounds follow those who feed them.

Otto von Bismarck, 1815 – 1898

3. a person who is mean or despicable

A man is a mean hound who refuses to work while the army faces the enemy.

“Germany’s Strikes”, “The Singleton Argus’, May 1, 1917

4. one who is passionate or enthusiastic about something

The superstition that the hounds of truth will rout the vermin of error seems, like a fragment of Victorian lace, quaint, but too brittle to be lifted out of the showcase.

William F. Buckley, Jr., 1925 – 2008

verb

1. to relentlessly hunt; to chase or pursue

Rabbits have a small home range, and they won’t leave it even when hounded by beagles.

Keith Sutton, “Rabbits and Beagles: Tips from an Expert Hunter”, ‘Bass Pro Shops’, www.1source.basspro.com/news-tips/small-game/7221/rabbits-beagles-tips-expert-hunter, accessed May 15, 2023

2. to pester with constant criticism or demands

Years ago the public used to hound me but now I can go shopping in peace

Irene Dunne, 1898 – 1990