Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • Holy Roman emperor and king of Germany (1056–1106) who struggled for power with Pope Gregory VII. Twice excommunicated, Henry appointed an antipope (1084) to crown him emperor, invaded Italy, and was dethroned by his sons.
  • King of England (1399–1413). Son of John of Gaunt and grandson of Edward III, he was banished from England by Richard II, who confiscated his estate. Henry returned, raised an army, and compelled Richard to abdicate. Parliament confirmed Henry's claim to the throne, thus establishing the Lancastrian line.
  • King of France (1589–1610) who founded the Bourbon royal line, successfully waged war against Spain (1595–1598), and gave political rights to French Protestants in the Edict of Nantes (1598).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the first Lancastrian king of England from 1399 to 1413; deposed Richard II and suppressed rebellions (1367-1413)
  • noun king of France from 1589 to 1610; although he was leader of the Huguenot armies, when he succeeded the Catholic Henry III and founded the Bourbon dynasty in 1589 he established religious freedom in France
  • noun King of the Germans and Holy Roman Emperor (1050-1106)

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Henry IV.

Examples

  • Against this he balances what he describes as Henry IV’s passionate fondness for them.38 In sum, this treatise is a model of how a liking for good food could be combined with an interest in health, antiquity, and pleasure.

    Savoring The Past Wheaton Barbara Ketcham 1983

  • Against this he balances what he describes as Henry IV’s passionate fondness for them.38 In sum, this treatise is a model of how a liking for good food could be combined with an interest in health, antiquity, and pleasure.

    Savoring The Past Wheaton Barbara Ketcham 1983

  • In Shakespeare's "Henry IV," the rotund, free-living Falstaff character was known as Plump Jack, famous for his speech defending jovial indulgences--"banish plump Jack and banish all the world."

    To Ski Or Not To Ski 2006

  • Once Lance and his cohorts had left the stage, 'Henry IV' ex-wife and family and the doctor show up and we get the second scene which fills in the details of his mania.

    Feeling Listless - "Taking the credit for your second symphony." 2004

  • Oliver Wendell Holmes expressed this matter well: It is revolting to have no better reason for a rule of law than that so it was laid down in the time of Henry IV.

    The Conservative Assault on the Constitution Erwin Chemerinsky 2010

  • After "Merry Wives" come parts one and two of "Henry IV," Aug. 1 and 18, respectively, and "Henry VIII" on Sept. 15.

    The Short List 2011

  • For many years I have maintained that a production MacAnuff did of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I, with Jon Vickery as Hal, Mandy Patinkin as Hotspur and the late Kenneth McMillan as Fastaff, is one of the few truly professional productions I have ever seen in Central Park.

    Howard Kissel: The Met's New Faust Howard Kissel 2011

  • For many years I have maintained that a production MacAnuff did of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I, with Jon Vickery as Hal, Mandy Patinkin as Hotspur and the late Kenneth McMillan as Fastaff, is one of the few truly professional productions I have ever seen in Central Park.

    Howard Kissel: The Met's New Faust Howard Kissel 2011

  • Her historical reach includes surprising shoplifter King Henry IV of France and Abbie Hoffman, who expressed a sense of joyous entitlement in "Steal This Book" in 1971.

    Books on Fashion's Secrets, Even Theft Christina Binkley 2011

  • Some 100,000 people came to see the Prince of Wales arrive by monoplane self-piloted, to declare the building open, receive a key from Scott – a modern figure in her cloche hat and neatly cropped hair – and attend part of the opening production of Henry IV and then fly off again, well before the end of the performance.

    A stage of her own: Elisabeth Scott and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.