Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hest

/hɛst/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.79 in modern English

Syllables: hest
IPA: /hɛst/

7

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Command, injunction.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"[T]hou [Ariel] vvaſt a Spirit too delicate / To act her [the witch Sycorax's] earthy, and abhord commands, / Refuſing her grand heſts, ſhe did confine thee / By helpe of her more potent Miniſters, / And in her moſt vnmittigable rage, / Into a cloven Pyne, […]"
"Fer[dinand]. […] VVhat is your name? / Mir[anda]. Miranda, O my Father, / I haue broke your heſt to ſay ſo."

Etymology

From Middle English heste, alteration of Middle English hes, from Old English hǣs (“command”). Akin to Old English hātan "to command". More at hight.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: heste, hes, hǣs, hātan

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

hests (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

behest

Rhymes With

best west level best rest test north west request suggest guest arrest contest chest

Questions

How do you pronounce hest?: The recorded pronunciation is /hɛst/.
What does hest mean?: Command, injunction.
Where does hest come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce hest

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hest”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/hɛst/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “hest”.
Repeat and practice — Say “hest” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.