Antonyms for henchmen


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


Definition of henchmen

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 :
  • But he was not fooled into thinking Domber did not have his own henchmen.
  • Extract from : « A Yankee Flier Over Berlin » by Al Avery
  • How much the Earps knew of what their henchmen did is beyond the telling in this story.
  • Extract from : « When the West Was Young » by Frederick R. Bechdolt
  • "Steady, boys," interrupted Stanner, as his five henchmen filed into the hall.
  • Extract from : « Snow-Bound at Eagle's » by Bret Harte
  • My two henchmen were manifestly disappointed; they turned reluctantly at my word.
  • Extract from : « The O'Ruddy » by Stephen Crane
  • And so Sintram became one of Theodoric's henchmen, and served him long and faithfully.
  • Extract from : « Theodoric the Goth » by Thomas Hodgkin
  • Another low-toned parley between the chief and his henchmen.
  • Extract from : « Under Fire » by Charles King
  • These usually were the Aldermen and Councilmen with their henchmen.
  • Extract from : « Bidwell's Travels, from Wall Street to London Prison » by Austin Biron Bidwell
  • When I need his patronage, I'll take my place in line with other henchmen and ask for it.
  • Extract from : « The Root of Evil » by Thomas Dixon
  • His henchmen held the Chisum herds as their legitimate prey.
  • Extract from : « The Story of the Outlaw » by Emerson Hough
  • Would you impose your vile body upon the henchmen of the stars?
  • Extract from : « The Prophet of Berkeley Square » by Robert Hichens

Synonyms for henchmen

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