properly signifies an opening, chasm, or gap; but it is particularly applied to those verses where one word ends with a vowel, and the following word begins with one, and thereby occasions the mouth to be more open, and the sound to be very harsh.

The term hiatus is also used in speaking of manuscripts, to denote their defects, or the parts that have been lost or effaced.

Hibiscus, Syrian mallow, a genus of plants belonging to the monodelphia class, and in the natural method ranking under the 37th order, Columniferae. See Botany Index.

Hicetas of Syracuse, an ancient philosopher and astronomer, who taught that the sun and stars were motionless, and that the earth moved round them. This is mentioned by Cicero, and probably gave the first hint of the true system to Copernicus. He flourished 344 B.C.

Hickes, George, an English divine of extraordinary parts and learning, was born in 1642. In 1681 he was made king's chaplain, and two years after dean of Worcester. The death of Charles II. stopped his farther preferment; for though his church principles were very high, he manifested too much zeal against Popery to be any favourite with James II. On the revolution, he with many others was deprived for refusing to take the oaths to King William and Queen Mary; and soon after, Archbishop Sancroft and his colleagues considering how to maintain episcopal succession among those who adhered to them, Dr Hickes carried over a list of the deprived clergy to King James; and with his sanction a private consecration was performed, at which it is said Lord Clarendon was present. Among others, Dr Hickes was consecrated suffragan bishop of Thetford, and died in 1715.—He wrote, 1. Institutiones Grammaticae Anglo-Saxonice, et Majo-Gothicae. 2. Antiqua literatura septentrionalis. 3. Two treatises, one of the Christian priesthood, the other of the dignity of the the episcopal order. 4. Jovian, or an answer to Julian the apostate. 5. Sermons; with many temporary controversial pieces on politics and religion.