white-haired
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having white or grey hair: Describes a person whose hair has turned white or grey, typically due to aging.
- Favorite, specially favored: (Archaic or literary) Describes a person who is a favorite or is held in special favor by someone.
Usage Examples
Adjective (Having white/grey hair):
- The white-haired gentleman told fascinating stories.
- She became white-haired at a relatively young age.
Adjective (Favorite):
- He was the white-haired candidate for the promotion. (This usage is now rare or literary.)
Advanced Usage
- "Hoary" as a synonym: In literary contexts, "white-haired" is closely related to "hoary," which can describe white or grey hair from age, or something very old and venerable.
- The hoary, white-haired sage offered his wisdom.
Variants and Related Words
- Fair-haired (adj): Literally having light-colored hair; figuratively meaning favorite or favored.
- He is the fair-haired boy of the management team.
- Hoary-headed (adj): (Literary) Having grey or white hair due to old age.
- The hoary-headed old man sat by the fire.
Synonyms
- Grey-haired: Having grey hair.
- Silver-haired: Having silvery-white hair (often used more positively).
- Grizzled: Having grey or partly grey hair.
- Venerable: Commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity (can be associated with the appearance).
Antonyms
- Dark-haired: Having hair of a dark color.
- Youthful: Having the appearance or qualities of youth.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- The fair-haired boy: An idiom meaning a favorite or someone who is given special advantages.
- In the office, he was always the manager's fair-haired boy.
- Hoary with age: A literary phrase describing something or someone very old.
- The legends were hoary with age.
Adjective
- favorite
- the fair-haired boy of the literary set
- showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
- whose beard with age is hoar-Coleridge
- nodded his hoary head