Boast (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Boasting.] [OE. bosten, boosten, v., bost, boost, n., noise, boasting; cf. G. bausen, bauschen, to swell, pusten, Dan. puste, Sw. pusta, to blow, Sw. posa to swell; or W. bostio to boast, bost boast, Gael. bosd. But these last may be from English.]
1.
To vaunt one's self; to brag; to say or tell things which are intended to give others a high opinion of one's self or of things belonging to one's self; as, to boast of one's exploits courage, descent, wealth.
By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: .. not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph. ii. 8, 9.
2.
To speak in exulting language of another; to glory; to exult.
In God we boast all the day long.
Ps. xiiv. 8
Syn. -- To brag; bluster; vapor; crow; talk big.
© Webster 1913.
Boast, v. t.
1.
To display in ostentatious language; to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation; to extol.
Lest bad men should boast
Their specious deeds.
Milton.
2.
To display vaingloriously.
3.
To possess or have; as, to boast a name.
To boast one's self, to speak with unbecoming confidence in, and approval of, one's self; -- followed by of and the thing to which the boasting relates. [Archaic]
Boast not thyself of to-morrow.
Prov. xxvii.
© Webster 1913.
Boast, v. t. [Of uncertain etymology.]
1. Masonry
To dress, as a stone, with a broad chisel.
Weale.
2. Sculp.
To shape roughly as a preparation for the finer work to follow; to cut to the general form required.
© Webster 1913.
Boast, n.
1.
Act of boasting; vaunting or bragging.
Reason and morals? and where live they most,
In Christian comfort, or in Stoic boast!
Byron.
2.
The cause of boasting; occasion of pride or exultation, -- sometimes of laudable pride or exultation.
The boast of historians.
Macaulay.
© Webster 1913.