Part 1364

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.</def>

<blockquote>Katharine, <b>break</b> thy mind to me. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise.</def>

<blockquote> Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . <b>To break</b> all faith, all vows, deceive, betray. <i>Milton</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate; <as>as, to <ex>break</ex> silence; to <ex>break</ex> one's sleep; to <ex>break</ex> one's journey.</as></def>

<blockquote>Go, release them, Ariel;

<blockquote>My charms I'll <b>break</b>, their senses I'll restore. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; <as>as, to <ex>break</ex> a set</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce; <as>as, the cavalry were not able to <ex>break</ex> the British squares</as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>To shatter to pieces; to reduce to fragments.</def>

<blockquote>The victim <b>broke</b> in pieces the musical instruments with which he had solaced the hours of captivity. <i>Prescott.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination; <as>as, to <ex>break</ex> a five dollar bill</as>.</def>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; <as>as, to <ex>break</ex> flax</as>.</def>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind.</def>

<blockquote>An old man, <b>broken</b> with the storms of state. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>12.</b> <def>To diminish the force of; to lessen the shock of, as a fall or blow.</def>

<blockquote>I'll rather leap down first, and <b>break</b> your fall. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>13.</b> <def>To impart, as news or information; to broach; -- with <i>to</i>, and often with a modified word implying some reserve; <as>as, to <ex>break</ex> the news gently to the widow; to <ex>break</ex> a purpose cautiously to a friend.</as></def>

<p><b>14.</b> <def>To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to discipline; <as>as, to <ex>break</ex> a horse to the harness or saddle</as>.</def> "To <i>break</i> a colt."

<i>Spenser.</i>

<blockquote>Why, then thou canst not <b>break her to the lute</b>? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>15.</b> <def>To destroy the financial credit of; to make bankrupt; to ruin.</def>

<blockquote>With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks, Attracts all fees, and little lawyers <b>breaks</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>16.</b> <def>To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.</def>

<blockquote>I see a great officer <b>broken</b>. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<note>With prepositions or adverbs: --</note>

<cs><col>To break down</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To crush; to overwhelm; <as>as, to <ex>break down<ex> one's strength; to <ex>break down<ex> opposition</as>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To remove, or open a way through, by breaking; <as>as, to <ex>break down<ex> a door or wall</as>.</cd> -- <col>To break in</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To force in; <as>as, to <ex>break in<ex> a door</as>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To train; to discipline; <as>as, a horse well <ex>broken in<ex></as>.</cd> -- <col>To break of</col>, <cd>to rid of; to cause to abandon; <as>as, to <ex>break<ex> one <ex>of<ex> a habit</as>.</cd> -- <col>To break off</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To separate by breaking; <as>as, to <ex>break off<ex> a twig</as>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To stop suddenly; to abandon.</cd> "<i>Break off<i> thy sins by righteousness." <i>Dan. iv. 27.</i> -- <col>To break open</col>, <cd>to open by breaking.</cd> "Open the door, or I will <ex>break it open</ex>." <i>Shak.</i> -- <col>To break out</col>, <cd>to take or force out by breaking; <as>as, to <ex>break out</ex> a pane of glass</as></cd>. -- <col>To break out a cargo</col>, <cd>to unstow a cargo, so as to unload it easily.</cd> -- <col>To break through</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To make an opening through, as, as by violence or the force of gravity; to pass violently through; <as>as, <ex>to break through</ex> the enemy's lines; <ex>to break through</ex> the ice</as>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To disregard; <as>as, <ex>to break through</ex> the ceremony</as>.</cd> -- <col>To break up</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To separate into parts; to plow (new or fallow ground).</cd> "<i>Break up</i> this capon." <i>Shak.</i> "<i>Break up</i> your fallow ground." <i>Jer. iv. 3.</i> (<sd>b</sd>) <cd>To dissolve; to put an end to.</cd> "<i>Break up</i> the court." <i>Shak.</i> -- <mcol><col>To break</col> (one) all <col>up</col></mcol>, <cd>to unsettle or disconcert completely; to upset.</cd> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark></cs>

<note>With an immediate object: -</note>