haem-

haem-, [Chiefly Brit.]

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

haem- combining form

hem¹ v., hemmed, hem•ming, n.
v.

Clothing to form or sew a hem on:[~ + object]She hemmed the skirt.
to enclose;
surround: [~ + in + object]The cavalry had managed to hem in the enemy infantry.[~ + object + in]A fence hemmed the sheep in.

Clothingthe bottom edge or border of a garment, drape, etc., esp. one made by folding back an edge and sewing it down.

hem•mer, n. [countable]

hem² interj., n., v., hemmed, hem•ming.
interj.

This sound, resembling a slight clearing of the throat, is used esp. to attract attention or express doubt or hesitation.

v. [no object]

Idioms

Idioms hem and haw, [no object]

to hesitate or falter while speaking:She hemmed and hawed a moment, nervous from all the pressure.
to avoid giving a direct answer:The candidate hemmed and hawed when asked if he had ever used illegal drugs.

hem¹ v., hemmed, hem•ming, n.
v.t.

to fold back and sew down the edge of (cloth, a garment, etc.);
form an edge or border on or around.
to enclose or confine (usually fol. by in, around, or about): hemmed in by enemies.

bef. 1000; Middle English hem(m), Old English hem, probably akin to hamm enclosure; see home

hem² interj., n., v., hemmed, hem•ming.
interj.

(an utterance resembling a slight clearing of the throat, used to attract attention, express doubt, etc.)

v.i.

to utter the sound "hem.''
to hesitate in speaking.
Idioms hem and haw:
- to hesitate or falter:She hemmed and hawed a lot before she came to the point.
- to speak noncommittally;
  avoid giving a direct answer:He hems and haws and comes out on both sides of every question.

hem-,

Also,[esp. Brit.,] haem-. Cf. haemat-.

'haem-' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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