| brute | 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. "The influence of capital and mere brute labour." (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. Origin: F. Brut, nasc, brute, fem, raw, rough, rude, brutish, L. Brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp. Bruto. 1. An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human; especially. 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) Synonym: See Beast. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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