Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Borrow?

\Bor"row\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Borrowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Borrowing}.] [OE. borwen, AS. borgian, fr. borg, borh, pledge; akin to D. borg, G. borg; prob. fr. root of AS. beorgan to protect. ?95. See 1st {Borough}.] 1. To receive from another as a loan, with the implied or expressed intention of returning the identical article or its equivalent in kind; -- the opposite of lend. 2. (Arith.) To take (one or more) from the next higher denomination in order to add it to the next lower; -- a term of subtraction when the figure of the subtrahend is larger than the corresponding one of the minuend. 3. To copy or imitate; to adopt; as, to borrow the style, manner, or opinions of another. Rites borrowed from the ancients. --Macaulay. It is not hard for any man, who hath a Bible in his hands, to borrow good words and holy sayings in abundance; but to make them his own is a work of grace only from above. --Milton. 4. To feign or counterfeit. ``Borrowed hair.'' --Spenser. The borrowed majesty of England. --Shak. 5. To receive; to take; to derive. Any drop thou borrowedst from thy mother. --Shak. {To borrow trouble}, to be needlessly troubled; to be overapprehensive.
\Bor"row\, n. 1. Something deposited as security; a pledge; a surety; a hostage. [Obs.] Ye may retain as borrows my two priests. --Sir W. Scott. 2. The act of borrowing. [Obs.] Of your royal presence I'll adventure The borrow of a week. --Shak.