The horses were young and handsome, and of the best breed in the north. Shakspeare. Walled towns, stored arsenals, and ordnance; all this is but a sheep in a lion's skin, except the breed and disposition of the people be stout and warlike. Bacon. Infectious streams of crowding sins began, And thro' the spurious breed and guilty nation Roscommon. ran. Rode fair Ascanius on a fiery steed, Queen Dido's gift, and of the Tyrian breed. Dryd. 2. A family, a generation: in contempt. A cousin of his last wife's was proposed: but John would have no more of thębreed. Arbuthnot. 3. Progeny; offspring. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friend; for when did friendship take A breed of barren metal of his friend? Shaksp. 4. A number produced at once; a hatch. She lays them in the sand, where they lie till they are hatched; sometimes above an hundred at a breed. Grew. BREEDBATE. n. s. [from breed and bate.] . One that breeds quarrels; an incendiary. An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant shall come in house withar; and, I warrant you, no teltale, nor no breedbate. Shakspeare. BREEDER. 1. s. [from breed.] 1. That which produces any thing. Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. Shakspeare. 2. The person which brings up another. Time was, when Italy and Rome have been the best breeders, and bringers up of the worthiest Ascham's Schoolmaster. men. 3. A female that is prolifick. Get thee to a nunnery; why would'st thou be a breeder of sinners? Shakspeare's Hamiet. Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad, Amongst the fairest breeders of our time. Sbaks. Let there be an hundred persons in London, and as many in the country, we say, that if there be sixty of them breeders in London, there are more than sixty in the country. Graunt. Yet, if a friend a night or two should need her, He'd recommend her as a special breeder. Pope. 4. One that takes care to raise a breed. The breeders of English cattle turned much to dairy, or else kept their cattle to six or seven years old. Temple. BREEDING. n. s. [from breed.] Shakspeare. 3. Nurture; care to bring up from the Why was my breeding order'd and prescrib'd, As of a person separate to God, Design'd for great exploits? Milton's Agonistes. BREESE. n. s. [briora, Saxon.] A stinging fly; the gadfly. Cleopatra, The breese upon her, like a cow in June, Shakspeare. Hudibras. The learned write, the insect breese Is but the monrel rince of bees. A fierce loud buzzing breese, their stings draw blood, And drive the cattle gadding through the wood. BREEZE. n. s. [brezza, Ital.] A gentle Dryden. gale; a soft wind. We find that these hottest, regions of the world, seated under the equinoctial line, or near it, are so refreshed with a daily gale of easterly wind, which the Spaniards call breeze, that doth everinore blow stronger in the heat of the day. Rulligb. From land a gentle breeze arose by night, Into a pefect calm; that not a breath BREEZY. adj. [from breeze.] Fanned with The seer, while zephyrs curl the swelling deep, BRE HON. n. s. An Irish word. In the case of murder, the brebon, that is, their And when the shining sun laugheth once, Spenser. What flames, quoth he, when I thee present see In danger rather to be drent than brent. F. Queen. BREST. n. s. [In architecture.] That member of a column, called also the torus, or tore. BREST Summers. The pieces in the outward parts of any timber building, and in the middle floors, into which the girders are framed. Harris. BRET. n. s. A fish of the turbot kind, also burt, or brut. BRETHREN. n. s. [The plural of brother.] All these sects are brethren to each other in faction, ignorance, iniquity, perverseness, pride. Swift. BREVE. n. s. [In musick.] A note or character of time, equivalent to two measures or minims. Harris. BREVIARY. n. s. [breviare, Fr. breviarium, Lat.] 1. An abridgment; epitome; a compendium. Cresconius, an African bishop, has given us an abridgment, or breviary thereof. Ayliffe. 2. The book containing the daily service of the church of Rome. BRE'VIAT.2 It is obvious to the shallowest discourser, that the whole counsel of God, as far as it is incumbent for man to know, is comprised in one breviat of evangelical truth. Decay of Play. BRE BRE'VIATURE. n. s. [from brevio, Lat.] An abbreviation. BRE VIER. n. s. A particular size of letter used in printing; so called, probably, from being originally used in printing a breviary. BRE'VITY. n. s. [brevitas, Lat.] Conciseness; shortness; contraction into few words. Virgil, studying brevity, and having the command of his own language, could bring those words into a narrow compass, which a translator cannot render without circumlocutions. Dryden. To BREW. v. a. [brouwen, Dutch; braaven, German; bɲipan, Saxon] 1. To make liquors by mixing several ingredients. We have drinks also brewed with several Hence with thy brew'd enchantments, foul de- 2. To put into preparation. Milton. Here's neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all, and another storm brewing. 3. To mingle. Shakspeare. Take away these chalices; go, brew me a Shakspeare. pottle of sack finely. 4. Pope seems to use the word indeterminately. Or brew fierce tempests on the watry main, Or o'er the glebe distil the kindly rain. 5. To contrive; to plot. Pope. I found it to be the most malicious and frantick surmise, and the most contrary to his nature, that, I think, had ever been breaved from the beginning of the world, howsoever countenanced by a libellous pamphlet of a fugitive physician, even in print. Wotton. To BREW. v. n. To perform the office of a brewer. I keep his house, and wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat, and make the beds, Shakspeare and do all myself. BREW. n. s. [from the verb.] Manner of brewing; or thing brewed. Trial would be made of the like brew with potatoe roots, or burr roots, or the pith of artichokes, which are nourishing meats. BRE WAGE, n. s. [from brea.] of various things. Go, brew me a pottle of sack finely. Bacon. -Simple of itself: I'll no pullet-sperm in my Shakspeare. breage. BREWER. n. s. [from brew.] A man whose profession it is to make beer. When brewers marr their malt with water. Shakspeare. Men every day eat and drink; though I think no man can demonstrate out of Euclid, or Apollonius, that his baker, or brewer, or cook, has not conveyed poison into his meat or drink. Tillotson. BREWHOUSE. n. s. [from brew and bouse.] A house appropriated to brewing. In our brewhouses, bakehouses, and kitchens, are made divers drinks, breads, and meats. Bacon. BREʼWING, n. s. [from brew.] Quantity of liquor brewed at once. A brewing of new beer, set by old beer, Bacon. maketh it work again. BRIʼAR. N. s. You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, You brib'd to combat on the English side. Dryd. BRIBER. 2. S. [from bribe.] One that pays for corrupt practices. Affection is still a briber of the judgment; and it is hard for a man to admit a reason against the thing he loves, or to confess the force South. of an argument against an interest. BRIBERY. n. 5. [from bribe.] The crime of taking or giving rewards for bad practices. There was a law made by the Romans, against the bribery and extortion of the governours of provinces: before, says Cicero, the governours did bribe and extort as much as was sufficient for themselves; but now they bribe and extort as much as may be enough not only for themselves, Bacon. but for judges, jurors, and magistrates. No bribery of courts, or cabals of factions, or advantages of fortune, can remove him from the solid foundations of honour and fidelity. Dryden. BRICK n. s. [brick, Dutch; brique, Fr. according to Menage, from imbrex, Lat. whence brica.] 1. A mass of burnt clay, squared for the use of builders. For whatsoever doth so alter a body, as it returneth not again to that it was, may be called alteratio major; as coals made of wood, or bricks of earth. A piece of brick. Earthen bottles, filled with hot water, do provoke in bed a sweat more daintily than brickbats hot. Bacon. BRICKCLAY. n. s. [from brick and clay.] Clay used for making brick. I observed it in pits, wrought for tile and brickclay. Woodward. BRICKDUST. n. s. [from brick and dust.] Dust made by pounding bricks. This ingenious author, being thus sharp set, got together a convenient quantity of brickdust, and disposed of it into several papers. Spectator. BRICKEARTH. n. s. [from brick and earth.] Earth used in making bricks. They grow very well both on the hazelly brickearths, and on gravel. Mortimer. BRICK-KILN. n. s. [from brick and kiln.] A kiln ; a place to burn bricks. Like the Israelites in the brick-kilns, they multiplied the more for their oppression. Decay of Pietg. BRICKLAYER. n. s. [from brick and lay.] A man whose trade it is to build with bricks; a brick-mason. The elder of them, being put to nurse, Time enough to have been interpreter To Babel's bricklayers, sure the tow'r had stood. Donne. BRICKMAKER. n. 5. [from brick and make.] One whose trade it is to make bricks. They are common in clay pits; but the bricktakers pick them out of the clay. Woodward. BRIDAL. adj. [from bride.] Belonging to a wedding; nuptial; connubial. Our wedding cheer to a sad fun'ral feast, Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges, change, Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse. Shaks. Come, I will bring thee to thy bridal chamber. Shakspeare. The amorous bird of night Sung spousal, and bid haste the ev'ning star, On his hill-top to light the bridal lamp. Milton. Your ill-meaning politician lords, Under pretence of bridal friends and guests, Appointed to await me thirty spies. When to my arms thou brought'st thy virgin love, Milton. Fair angels sung our bridal hymn above. Dryd With all the pomp of woe, and sorrow's pride! Oh early lost oh fitter to be led In chearful splendour to the bridal bed! Walsh. For her the spouse prepares the bridal ring, For her white virgins hymenaals sing. Pope. BRIDAL. 2. S. The nuptial festival. Nay, we must think men are not gods; Nor of them look for such observance always, As fits the bridal. Shakspeare's Othello. Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky, Sweet dews shall weep thy fall to-night; For thou must die. Herbert. In death's dark bow'rs our bridals we will keep, And his coid hand Shall draw the curtain when we go to sleep. Dryden. BRIDE. n. s. [bɲýd, Saxon; brudur, in Runick, signifies a beautiful woman.] A woman new married. Th' important enterprize, and give the bride. These are tributes due from pious brides, From a chaste matron, and a virtuous wife. Smith. BRIDEBED. n. s. [from bride and bed.] Marriage-bed. Now until the break of day, Through this house each fairy stray; Which by us shall blessed be. Shakspeare. With the phant'sies of hey-troll, Ben Jonson. The writer, resolved to try his fortune, fasted all day, and, that he might be sure of dreaming upon something at night, procured an handsome slice of bridecake, which he placed very conveniently under his pillow. Spectator. BRIDEGROOM. n. s. [from bride and groom.] A new married man. As are those dulcet sounds in break of day, That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's eat, And summon him to marriage. Shakspeart. Why, happy bridegroom! Why dost thou steal so soon away to bed? Dryd. BRIDEMEN. n. s. The attendants on BRIDEMAIDS. S the bride and bride groom. BRIDESTAKE. n. s. [from bride and stake.] It seems to be a post set in the ground, to dance round, like a maypole. Round about the bridestake. Ben Jonson. BRIDEWELL. n. s. [The palace built by St. Bride's or Bridget's well, was turned into a workhouse.] A house of correction. He would contribute more to reformation than all the workhouses and bridewells in Europe. Spectator. BRIDGE. n. s. [bric, Saxon.] 1. A building raised over water for the convenience of passage. What need the bridge much broader than the flood? Shakspeare. And proud Araxes, whom no bridge could bind. 2. The upper part of the nose. Dryden. The raising gently the bridge of the nose, doth prevent the deformity of a saddle nose. Bacon. 3. The supporter of the strings in stringed instruments of musick. To BRIDGE. v.a. [from the noun.] To raise a bridge over any place. Came to the sea; and, over Hellespont Bridging his way, Europe with Asia join'd. BRIDLE. n. s. [bride, Fr.] Milton. 1. The headstall and reins by which a horse is restrained and governed. They seiz'd at last His courser's bridle, and his feet embrac'd. Dryd 2. A restraint; a curb; a check. The king resolved to put that place, which some men fancied to be a bridle upon the city, into the hands of such a man as he might rely upon. Clarendon. A bright genius often betrays itself into many errours, without a continual bridle on the tongue. Watts. To BRIDLE. v. a. [from the noun.] I bridle in my struggling muse with pain, That longs to launch into a bolder strain. Addis. 2. To put a bridle on any thing. The queen of beauty stopp'd her bridled doves; Approv'd the little labour of the Loves. Prior. 3. To restrain; to govern. The disposition of things is committed to them, whom law may at all times bridle, and superiour power controul. Hooker. With a strong, and yet a gentle hand, You bridle faction, and our hearts command. Waller. To BRIDLE. v. n. To hold up the head. BRIDLEHAND. n. s. [from bridle and band.] The hand which holds the bridle in riding. In the turning, one might perceive the bridleband something gently stir; but, indeed, so gently, as it did rather distil virtue than use violence. Sidney. The heat of summer put his blood into a ferment, which affected his bridleband with great pain. Wiseman. BRIEF. adj. [brevis, Lat. bref, Fr.] 1. Short; concise. It is now seldom used but of words. A play there is, my lord, some ten words long, Shakspeare. I must begin with rudiments of art, To teach you gamut in a briefer sort, More pleasant, pretty, and effectual. Shaksp. They nothing doubt prevailing, and to make it brief wars. Shakspeare's Coriolanus. The brief style is that which expresseth much in little. Ben Jonson. If I had quoted more words, I had quoted more profaneness; and therefore Mr. Congreve has reason to thank me for being brief. Collier. a. Contracted; narrow. The shrine of Venus, or straight pight Minerva, Postures beyond brief nature. Shakspeare. BRIEF. n. s. brief, Dutch, a letter.] 1. A writing of any kind. There is a brief, how many sports are ripe: Make choice of which your highness will see first. Shakspeare. The apostolical letters are of a twofold kind and difference; viz. some are called briefs, because they are comprised in a short and compendious way of writing. 2. A short extract, or epitome. Ayliffe. But how you must begin this enterprize, I will your highness thus in brief advise. F. Queen. I doubt not but I shall make it plain, as far as a sum or brief can make a cause plain. Bacon. The brief of this transaction is, these springs that arise here are impregnated with vitriol. Woodward. 3. In law. A writ whereby a man is summoned to answer to any action; or it is any precept of the king in writing, issuing out of any court, whereby he commands any thing to be done, Cerwell. 4. The writing given the pleaders, containing the case. The brief with weighty crimes was charg'd, On which the pleader much enlarg'd. Swift. 5. Letters patent, giving licence to a charitable collection for any publick or private loss. 6. [In musick.] A measure of quantity, which contains two strokes down in beating time, and as many up. Harris. BRIEFLY. adv [from brief] Concisely; in few words. I will speak in that manner which the subject requires; that is, probably, and moderately, and briefly. Bacon. The modest queen awhile, with downeast eyes, Ponder'd the speech; then briefly thus replies. Dryden. BRIEFNESS. n. s. [from brief.] Conciseness; shortness. They excel in grandity and gravity, in smoothness and propriety, in quickness and briefness. Camden. BRIER. n. s. [bræn, Saxon.] A plant. The sweet and the wild sorts are both species of the rose. What subtle hole is this, briers? Whose mouth is cover'd with rude growing Shakspeares Then thrice under a brier doth creep, Which at both ends was rooted deep, And over it three times doth leap; Her magick much availing. Drayton's Nymphid. BRIERY. adj. [from brier.] Rough; thorny; full of briars. BRIG, and possibly also BRIX, is derived from the Saxon bricz, a bridge, which, to this day, in the northern counties, is called a brigg, and not a bridge. Gibson's Camden. BRIGADE. n. s. [brigade, Fr. It is now generally pronounced with the accent on the last syllable.] A division of forces; a body of men, consisting of several squadrons of horse, or battalions of foot. Milton Or fronted brigades form. Here the Bavarian duke his brigades leads, Gallant in arms, and gaudy to behold. Philips. BRIGADE Major. An officer appointed by the brigadier to assist him in the ma nagement and ordering of his brigade; and he there acts as a major does in an army. Harris. BRIGADIER General. An officer who commands a brigade of horse or foot in an army; next in order below a major general.. BRIGAND. n. s. [brigand, Fr.] A rob ber; one that belongs to a band of robbers. There might be a rout of such barbarous thievish brigands in some rocks; but it was a degeneration from the nature of man, a political Bramhall against Hobbes. n. s. [from brigand.] creature. BRIGANDINE. BRIGANTINE. 1. A light vessel; such as has been formerly used by corsairs or pirates. Like as a warlike brigandine, apply'd Parnel. O Liberty, thou goddess heav'nly bright, Profuse of bliss, aud pregnant with delight! Addison. Bright as the sun, and like the morning fair, Such Chloe is, and common as the air. Granville. To-day black omens threat the brightest fair That e'er engag'd a watchful spirit's care. Pope. Thou more dreaded foe, bright beauty, shine. Young. 6. Illuminated with science; sparkling with wit. Gen'rous, gay, and gallant nation, Great in arms, and bright in art., Anonymous. If parts allure thee, think how Bacon shin'd, The wisest,brightest, meanest, of mankind. Pope. 7. Illustrious; glorious. This is the worst, if not the only stain, I' th' brightest annals of a female reign. Cotton. TO BRIGHTEN. v, a. [from bright.] 1. To make bright; to make to shine. The purple morning, rising with the year, Salutes the spring, as her celestial eyes Adorn the world, and brighten up the skies. Dryden. 2. To make luminous by light from with out. Yet time ennobles or degrades each line; It brighten'd Craggs's, and may darken thine. 5. To make acute, or witty. To BRIGHTEN. .n. Pope. To grow bright; to clear up: as, the sky brightens. But let a lord once own the happy lines, How the stile brightens! how the sense retines! Pope. BRIGHTLY.adv. [from bright.] Splendidly; with lustre. Safely I slept, till brightly dawning shone The morn, conspicuous on her golden throne. Pope. BRIGHTNESS. n. s. [from bright] 1. Lustre; splendour; glitter. The blazing brightness of her beauty's beam, And glorious light of her sun-shining face, To tell, were as to strive against the stream. Fairy Queen South. A sword, by long lying still, will contract a rust, which shall deface its brightness. The moon put on her veil of light; Mysterious veil, of brightness made, That's both her lustre and her shade. Hudibras. Vex'd with the present moment's heavy gloom, Why seek we brightness from the years to come? 2. Acuteness. Prior. Prior. The brightness of his parts, the solidity of his judgment, and the candour and generosity of his temper, distinguished him in an age of great politeness. BRILLIANCY. n. s. [from brilliant.] Lustre; splendour. BRILLIANT. adj. [brillant, Fr.] Shining; sparkling; splendid; full of lustre. So have I seen in larder dark Of veal a lucid loin, Replete with many a brilliant spark, Dorset. At once both stink and shine. BRILLIANT. n. s. A diamond of the finest cut, formed into angles, so as to refract the light, and shine more In deference to his virtues, I forbear He needs not foil, but shines by his own proper light. Dryden. BRILLIANTNESS. n. s. [from brilliant.] Splendour; lustre. BRILLS. . S. The hair on the eyelids of a horse. BRIM. n. s. [brim, Icelandish.] 1. The edge of any thing. Dict. His hat being in the form of a turban, daintily made, the locks of his hair came down about the brims of it. Bacon. Crashare. 2. The upper edge of any vessel. Thus in a bason drop a shilling, Then fill the vessel to the brim, 3. The top of any liquor. Swift. 4. The feet of the priests, that bare the ark, were dipped in the brim of the water. Joshua The bank of a fountain. |