I.manhood, youthful prime, youth, Lat. pubertas, νεηνίηι ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς, τοῦπερ χαριεστάτη ἥβη Od.; ἥβης μέτρον ἱκέσθαι or ἱκάνειν ῀ ἡβάσκειν, id=Od.
b.youthful strength, vigour, πειρώμενος ἥβης Il.; ἥβηι πεποίθεα Od.
c.legally, ἥβη was the time before manhood, at Athens 16 years of age; at Sparta, 18, so that τὰ δέκα ἀφ᾽ ἥβης were men of 28, τὰ τετταράκοντα ἀφ᾽ ἥβης men of 58, and so on, Xen.: cf. ἔφηβος.
3.a body of youth, the youth, Lat. juventus, Aesch.
II.as femin. prop. n., Ἥβη, Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera, wife of Hercules, Hom.