Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HEAV'Y, a. [hev'y; Sax. heafig, hefig, that is, lift-like, lifted with labor, from heafan, to heave.]

1. Weighty; ponderous; having great weight; tending strongly to the center of attraction; contrary to light; applied to material bodies; as, a heavy stone; a heavy load.
2. Sad; sorrowful; dejected; depressed in mind. A light wife makes a heavy husband. Shak. So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart. Prov. xxv.
3. Grievous; afflictive; depressing to the spirits; as, heavy news; a heavy calamity.
4. Burdensome; oppressive; as, heavy taxes. Make thy father's heavy yoke – lighter. 1 Kings xii.
5. Wanting life and animation; dull. My heavy eyes you say confess / A heart to love and grief inclined. Prior.
6. Drowsy; dull. Their eyes were heavy. Matth. xxvi. Luke ix.
7. Wanting spirit or animation; destitute of life or rapidity of sentiment; dull; as, a heavy writer; a heavy style.
8. Wanting activity or vivacity; indolent. But of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. Dryden.
9. Slow; sluggish. He walks with a heavy gait.
10. Burdensome; tedious; as, heavy hours. Time lies heavy on him who has no employment.
11. Loaded; encumbered; burdened. He found his men heavy, and laden with booty. Bacon.
12. Lying with weight on the stomach; not easily digested; as, oily food is heavy to the stomach.
13. Moist; deep; soft; miry; as, heavy land; a heavy soil. We apply heavy to soft loamy or clayey land, which makes the draught of a plow or wagon difficult and laborious. So we say, a heavy road.
14. Difficult; laborious; as, a heavy draught.
15. Weary; supported with pain or difficulty. And the hands of Moses were heavy. Ex. xvii.
16. Inflicting severe evils, punishments or judgments. The hand of the Lord was heavy on them of Ashdod. 1 Sam. v.
17. Burdensome; occasioning great care. This thing is too heavy for thee. Ex. xviii.
18. Dull; not hearing; inattentive. Neither his ear heavy, that he can not hear. Is. lix.
19. Large, as billows; swelling and rolling with great force; as, a heavy sea.
20. Large in amount; as, a heavy expense; a heavy debt.
21. Thick; dense; black; as, a heavy cloud.
22. Violent; tempestuous; as, a heavy wind or gale.
23. Large; abundant; as, a heavy fall of snow or rain.
24. Great; violent; forcible; as, a heavy fire of cannon or small arms.
25. Not raised by leaven or fermentation; not light; clammy; as, heavy bread.
26. Requiring much labor or much expense; as, a heavy undertaking.
27. Loud; as, heavy thunder. Heavy metal, in military affairs, signifies large guns, carrying balls of a large size, or it is applied to large balls themselves.