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hale (adj.)

"in good health, robust," Old English hal "healthy, sound, safe; entire; uninjured; genuine, straightforward," from Proto-Germanic *hailaz(source also of Old Frisian hel"complete, full; firm" (of ground), Old High German heil, Old Norse heill "hale, sound," Gothic hails "hale"), from PIE *kailo- "whole, uninjured, of good omen" (see health). The Scottish and northern English form of whole and with a more etymological spelling. It later acquired a literary sense of "free from infirmity" (1734), especially in reference to the aged. Related: Haleness.

hale (v.)

c. 1200, "drag, pull," in Middle English used of arrows, bowstrings, reins, swords, anchors, etc., from Old French haler "to pull, haul, tow, tug" (12c.), from Frankish *halon or Old Dutch halen or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *halon "to call," from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout." Figurative sense of "to draw (someone) from one condition to another" is late 14c. Related: Haled; haling.

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Definitions of hale from WordNet
1
hale (v.)
to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means;
Synonyms: coerce / squeeze / pressure / force
hale (v.)
draw slowly or heavily;
Synonyms: haul / cart / drag
2
hale (adj.)
exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health;
hale and hearty
Synonyms: whole
3
Hale (n.)
a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been `I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country' (1755-1776);
Synonyms: Nathan Hale
Hale (n.)
United States astronomer who discovered that sunspots are associated with strong magnetic fields (1868-1938);
Synonyms: George Ellery Hale
Hale (n.)
prolific United States writer (1822-1909);
Synonyms: Edward Everett Hale
From wordnet.princeton.edu