Any way you look at it, the heart leads.
Check out these definitions and idioms that frame the core of our existence.
heart [härt]
n
Definitions:
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the hollow muscular organ in vertebrates whose contractions propel the blood through the circulatory system. In mammals it consists of a right and left atrium and a right and left ventricle.
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the corresponding organ or part in invertebrates.
3. This organ considered as the seat of life and emotions, esp love.
4. Emotional mood or disposition: a happy heart, a change of heart.
5. Tenderness or pity: you have no heart.
6. Courage or spirit; bravery.
7. The inmost or most central part of a thing: the heart of the city.
8. The most important or vital part:
the heart of the matter.
9. (Cookery) (of vegetables such as cabbage) the inner compact part.
10. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Forestry) the core of a tree.
11. The part nearest the heart of a person; breast: she held him to her heart.
12. A dearly loved person: usually used as a term of address: dearest heart.
13. A conventionalized representation of the heart, having two rounded lobes at the top meeting in a point at the bottom.
14. (Group Games / Card Games)
a. a red heart-shaped symbol on a playing card.
b. a card with one or more of these symbols or (when pl.) the suit of cards so marked.
15. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture) a fertile condition in land, conducive to vigorous growth in crops or herbage (esp in the phrase in good heart).
Idioms:
after one’s own heart appealing to one’s own disposition, taste, or tendencies.
at heart in reality or fundamentally.
break one’s (or someone’s) heart to grieve (or cause to grieve) very deeply, esp through love.
by heart by committing to memory.
cross my heart (and hope to die). I promise!
eat one’s heart out to brood or pine with grief or longing
from (the bottom of) one’s heart very sincerely or deeply.
have a heart! be kind or merciful.
have one’s heart in it to have enthusiasm for something.
have one’s heart in one’s boots to be depressed or down-hearted.
have one’s heart in one’s mouth (or throat) to be full of apprehension, excitement, or fear.
have one’s heart in the right place
a. to be kind, thoughtful, or generous
b. to mean well
have the heart (usually used with a negative) to have the necessary will, callousness, etc., (to do something) I didn’t have the heart to tell him.
heart and soul absolutely; completely.
heart of hearts the depths of one’s conscience or emotions.
heart of oak a brave person.
in one’s heart secretly; fundamentally.
lose heart to become despondent or disillusioned (over something).
lose one’s heart to to fall in love with.
near or close to one’s heart cherished or important.
set one’s heart on to have as one’s ambition to obtain; covet.
take heart to become encouraged.
take to heart to take seriously or be upset about.
to one’s heart’s content as much as one wishes.
wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve to show one’s feelings openly.
with all one’s (or one’s whole) heart very willingly.
Courtesy of FreeDictionary. com.
