a. [ Cf. F. hircique. See Hircin. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, mutton suet; -- applied by Chevreul to an oily acid which was obtained from mutton suet, and to which he attributed the peculiar taste and smell of that substance. The substance has also been called hircin. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. héroïque, L. heroïcus, Gr. "hrwi:ko`s.] 1. Of or pertaining to, or like, a hero; of the nature of heroes; distinguished by the existence of heroes; as, the heroic age; an heroic people; heroic valor. [1913 Webster]

2. Worthy of a hero; bold; daring; brave; illustrious; as, heroic action; heroic enterprises. [1913 Webster]

3. (Sculpture & Painting) Larger than life size, but smaller than colossal; -- said of the representation of a human figure. [1913 Webster]

Heroic Age, the age when the heroes, or those called the children of the gods, are supposed to have lived. --
Heroic poetry, that which celebrates the deeds of a hero; epic poetry. --
Heroic treatment or
Heroic remedies (Med.), treatment or remedies of a severe character, suited to a desperate case. --
Heroic verse (Pros.), the verse of heroic or epic poetry, being in English, German, and Italian the iambic of ten syllables; in French the iambic of twelve syllables; and in classic poetry the hexameter.

Syn. -- Brave; intrepid; courageous; daring; valiant; bold; gallant; fearless; enterprising; noble; magnanimous; illustrious. [1913 Webster]

a. Heroic. [ R. ] Spectator. -- He*ro"ic*al*ly, adv. -- He*ro"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Heroism. [ R. ] W. Montagu.

{ } a. [ Cf. F. héroïcomigue. See Heroic, and Comic. ] Combining the heroic and the ludicrous; denoting high burlesque; as, a heroicomic poem. [ 1913 Webster ]