Heft
/hɛft/
Heft refers to the weight or substantiality of an object, or the act of lifting something heavy, often to assess its mass or use it effectively.
Examples
- She hefted the backpack onto her shoulders.
- The book had a satisfying heft that made it feel important.
- He hefted the package to see if it was too heavy to mail.
- They hefted the stone into place with ropes.
- The soldier hefted his rifle and moved forward.
Meanings
Originally referred to the handle of a tool or weapon in Old English. Over time, it evolved to mean the weight or mass of an object, likely because the handle was the part one felt the weight through. By the 19th century, 'heft' was used to describe the perceived weight of something when lifted.
Examples
- He tested the heft of the hammer before swinging it.
- The book had a satisfying heft that made it feel important.
- She hefted the suitcase into the trunk with a grunt.
- The sword's heft made it difficult to wield for long.
- They hefted the crate onto the shelf together.
As the noun 'heft' referred to the handle and then the weight, the verb form emerged in the 16th century to describe the act of lifting or swinging something by its handle, especially to judge its weight or effectiveness.
Examples
- He hefted the ax and swung it at the log.
- She hefted the backpack onto her shoulders.
- They hefted the stone into place with ropes.
- The soldier hefted his rifle and moved forward.
- He hefted the package to see if it was too heavy to mail.