Antonyms for henchman


Grammar : Noun
Spell : hench-muhn
Phonetic Transcription : ˈhɛntʃ mən


Definition of henchman

Origin :
  • mid-14c., hengestman, later henshman (mid-15c.) "high-ranking servant (usually of gentle birth), attendant upon a king, nobleman, etc.," originally "groom," probably from man (n.) + Old English hengest "horse, stallion, gelding," from Proto-Germanic *hangistas (cf. Old Frisian hengst, Dutch hengest, German Hengst "stallion"), perhaps literally "best at springing," from PIE *kenku- (cf. Greek kekiein "to gush forth;" Lithuanian sokti "to jump, dance;" Breton kazek "a mare," literally "that which belongs to a stallion").
  • Perhaps modeled on Old Norse compound hesta-maðr "horse-boy, groom." The word became obsolete in England but was retained in Scottish as "personal attendant of a Highland chief," in which sense Scott revived it in literary English from 1810. Sense of "obedient or unscrupulous follower" is first recorded 1839, probably based on a misunderstanding of the word as used by Scott.
  • noun follower
Example sentences :
  • A henchman attended, carried the carven cup in hand, served the clear mead.
  • Extract from : « Beowulf » by Anonymous
  • No henchman he worthied by weapons, if witness his features, his peerless presence!
  • Extract from : « Beowulf » by Anonymous
  • At sight of them, I swung round and gripped my henchman by the shoulder.
  • Extract from : « Bardelys the Magnificent » by Rafael Sabatini
  • "Wh-h—" stuttered the henchman, and then almost snatched it from Tim's hand.
  • Extract from : « Sonnie-Boy's People » by James B. Connolly
  • For his tone was that of the great man addressing his henchman.
  • Extract from : « The Plum Tree » by David Graham Phillips
  • The Governor had dined sumptuously and received his henchman graciously.
  • Extract from : « Rabbi and Priest » by Milton Goldsmith
  • Then how good it would be to have such a henchman as Tom at my side.
  • Extract from : « The Golden Magnet » by George Manville Fenn
  • It was not the Samurai but the henchman who was weak and wrong.
  • Extract from : « The Mutiny of the Elsinore » by Jack London
  • And she would have to call Mrs. Henchman Mother, and Audrey would be her sister!
  • Extract from : « The Girls of St. Olave's » by Mabel Mackintosh
  • Would they be pleased and surprised—her grandmother and Mrs. Henchman and Audrey?
  • Extract from : « The Girls of St. Olave's » by Mabel Mackintosh

Synonyms for henchman

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019