Part 563

10. To sustain, or be answerable for, as blame, expense, responsibility, etc.

He shall bear their iniquities. Is. liii. 11.

Somewhat that will bear your charges. Dryden.

11. To render or give; to bring forward. "Your testimony bear" Dryden.

12. To carry on, or maintain; to have. "The credit of bearing a part in the conversation." Locke.

13. To admit or be capable of; that is, to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change.

In all criminal cases the most favorable interpretation should be put on words that they can possibly bear. Swift.

14. To manage, wield, or direct. "Thus must thou thy body bear." Shak. Hence: To behave; to conduct.

Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? Shak.

15. To afford; to be to; to supply with.

His faithful dog shall bear him company. Pope.

16. To bring forth or produce; to yield; as, to bear apples; to bear children; to bear interest.

Here dwelt the man divine whom Samos bore. Dryden.

In the passive form of this verb, the best modern usage restricts the past participle born to the sense of brought forth, while borne is used in the other senses of the word. In the active form, borne alone is used as the past participle.

To bear down. (a) To force into a lower place; to carry down; to depress or sink. "His nose, . . . large as were the others, bore them down into insignificance." Marryat. (b) To overthrow or crush by force; as, to bear down an enemy. -- To bear a hand. (a) To help; to give assistance. (b) (Naut.) To make haste; to be quick. -- To bear in hand, to keep (one) up in expectation, usually by promises never to be realized; to amuse by false pretenses; to delude. [Obs.] "How you were borne in hand, how crossed." Shak. -- To bear in mind, to remember. -- To bear off. (a) To restrain; to keep from approach. (b) (Naut.) To remove to a distance; to keep clear from rubbing against anything; as, to bear off a blow; to bear off a boat. (c) To gain; to carry off, as a prize. -- To bear one hard, to owe one a grudge. [Obs.] "Cæsar doth bear me hard." Shak. -- To bear out. (a) To maintain and support to the end; to defend to the last. "Company only can bear a man out in an ill thing." South. (b) To corroborate; to confirm. -- To bear up, to support; to keep from falling or sinking. "Religious hope bears up the mind under sufferings." Addison.

Syn. -- To uphold; sustain; maintain; support; undergo; suffer; endure; tolerate; carry; convey; transport; waft.

Bear (&?;), v. i. 1. To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.

This age to blossom, and the next to bear. Dryden.

2. To suffer, as in carrying a burden.

But man is born to bear. Pope.

3. To endure with patience; to be patient.

I can not, can not bear. Dryden.

4. To press; -- with on or upon, or against.

These men bear hard on the suspected party. Addison.

5. To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters to bear.

6. To relate or refer; -- with on or upon; as, how does this bear on the question?

7. To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.

Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform. Hawthorne.