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.]

 

© Webster 1913.


Brute, n.

1.

An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human; esp. a quadruped; a beast.

Brutes may be considered as either aeral, 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.

 

© Webster 1913.


Brute, v. t. [For bruit.]

To report; to bruit.

[Obs.]

 

© Webster 1913.