Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Brute?

\Brute\, a. [F. brut, nasc., brute, fem., raw, rough, rude, brutish, L. brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp. bruto.] 1. Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature. 2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute beast; the brute creation. A creature . . . not prone And brute as other creatures, but endued With sanctity of reason. --Milton. 3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute violence. --Macaulay. The influence of capital and mere brute labor. --Playfair. 4. Having the physical powers predominating over the mental; coarse; unpolished; unintelligent. A great brute farmer from Liddesdale. --Sir W. Scott. 5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [R.]
\Brute\, n. 1. An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human; esp. a quadruped; a beast. Brutes may be considered as either a["e]ral, terrestrial, aquatic, or amphibious. --Locke. 2. A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners; as unfeeling or coarse person. An ill-natured brute of a husband. --Franklin. Syn: See {Beast}.
\Brute\, v. t. [For bruit.] To report; to bruit. [Obs.]