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Bowen’s River and Carmelo’s Wynona play their characters’ shortcomings to the hilt.—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025 Among the ideas that apparently haven’t gained traction was one in which allies would invest massively to arm Ukraine to the hilt to deter a future Russian assault.—Samya Kullab and Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Likewise, Ohtani played the market to the hilt leaving the Los Angeles Angels for the Dodgers last year in late December.—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 25 Oct. 2024 Maliki is a divisive brute whom Iran supports to the hilt.—Dov Friedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2014 See All Example Sentences for hilt
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German helza hilt
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of hilt was
before the 12th century
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