Hearty or Hardy?
An article in the Record-Eagle
quoted a local Conservation District coordinator as saying, “They are pretty
hearty plants.” He may actually have said that, but the reporter should have
quietly corrected the word choice to what it should be: “They are pretty hardy
plants.”
Hearty has many shades
of meaning, but they are all connected—at least metaphorically—to the heart.
· * Unrestrained
expression: “He gave a hearty laugh after I finished the joke.”
· * Zealous and
fervent: “She is a hearty supporter of the Weight Watchers’ program.”
· * Performed
with energy: “In a chug-a-lug contest, you give your opponent a hearty slap on
the back when he slams the stein down.”
· * Exhibiting
warmth and affection: “He gave me a hearty smile as soon as he spotted me
across the room.”
· * Merry and
convivial: “They promised me that a hearty time would be had by all.”
· * Sincere and
deeply felt: “She has a hearty dislike for most politicians.”
· * Nourishing
and strengthening: “There is nothing like a hearty bowl of chicken soup on a
cold winter’s day.”
· * Robust and
voracious: “He has a hearty appetite; prepare plenty of food.”
In contrast, hardy is
connected to the idea of hardness, strength, durability.
· * Courageous
and daring: “Are you hardy enough to take on another responsibility?”
· * Capable of
enduring fatigue: “The hardy cyclists worked their way to the top of the mountain.”
· * Able to grow
in harsh conditions: “They are pretty hardy plants.”
Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition
Nook edition
Nook edition
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