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.