Part 1365

<cs><col>To break the back</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To dislocate the backbone; hence, to disable totally.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To get through the worst part of; <as>as, to <ex>break the back<ex> of a difficult undertaking</as>.</cd> -- <col>To break bulk</col>, <cd>to destroy the entirety of a load by removing a portion of it; to begin to unload; also, to transfer in detail, as from boats to cars.</cd> -- <col>To break cover</col>, <cd>to burst forth from a protecting concealment, as game when hunted.</cd> -- <mcol><col>To break a deer</col> &or; <col>stag</col></mcol>, <cd>to cut it up and apportion the parts among those entitled to a share.</cd> -- <col>To break fast</col>, <cd>to partake of food after abstinence. See <er>Breakfast</er>.</cd> -- <col>To break ground</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To open the earth as for planting; to commence excavation, as for building, siege operations, and the like; as, to <i>break ground<i> for a foundation, a canal, or a railroad.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>Fig.: To begin to execute any plan.</cd> <sd>(c)</sd> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <cd>To release the anchor from the bottom.</cd> -- <col>To break the heart</col>, <cd>to crush or overwhelm (one) with grief.</cd> -- <col>To break a house</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>to remove or set aside with violence and a felonious intent any part of a house or of the fastenings provided to secure it.</cd> -- <col>To break the ice</col>, <cd>to get through first difficulties; to overcome obstacles and make a beginning; to introduce a subject.</cd> -- <col>To break jail</col>, <cd>to escape from confinement in jail, usually by forcible means.</cd> -- <col>To break a jest</col>, <cd>to utter a jest.</cd> "Patroclus . . . the livelong day <i>break<i> scurril jests." <i>Shak.</i> -- <col>To break joints</col>, <cd>to lay or arrange bricks, shingles, etc., so that the joints in one course shall not coincide with those in the preceding course.</cd> -- <col>To break a lance</col>, <cd>to engage in a tilt or contest.</cd> -- <col>To break the neck</col>, <cd>to dislocate the joints of the neck.</cd> -- <col>To break no squares</col>, <cd>to create no trouble.</cd> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> -- <mcol><col>To break a path</col>, <col>road</col>, etc.,</mcol> <cd>to open a way through obstacles by force or labor.</cd> -- <col>To break upon a wheel</col>, <cd>to execute or torture, as a criminal by stretching him upon a wheel, and breaking his limbs with an iron bar; -- a mode of punishment formerly employed in some countries.</cd> -- <col>To break wind</col>, <cd>to give vent to wind from the anus.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- To dispart; rend; tear; shatter; batter; violate; infringe; demolish; destroy; burst; dislocate.</syn>

<h1>Break</h1> <Xpage=177>

<hw>Break</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To open spontaneously, or by pressure from within, as a bubble, a tumor, a seed vessel, a bag.</def>

<blockquote>Else the bottle <b>break</b>, and the wine runneth out. <i>Math. ix. 17.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to dawn.</def>

<blockquote>The day begins to <b>break</b>, and night is fied. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And from the turf a fountain <b>broke</b>, and gurgled at our feet. <i>Wordswoorth.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To burst forth violently, as a storm.</def>

<blockquote> The clouds are still above; and, while I speak, A second deluge o'er our head may <b>break</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To open up. to be scattered; t be dissipated; <as>as, the clouds are <ex>breaking</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>At length the darkness begins to <b>break</b>. <i>Macawlay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.</def>

<blockquote>See how the dean begins to <b>break</b>; <b>Poor gentleman <?/ he droops apace</b>. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; <as>as, my heart is <ex>breaking</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>To fall in business; to become bankrupt.</def>

<blockquote>He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes <b>break</b>, and come to poverty. <i>Bacn.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; <as>as, to <ex>break into a run or gallop</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>10.</b> <def>To fail in musical quality; <as>as, a singer's voice <ex>breaks</ex> when it is strained beyond its compass and a tone or note is not completed, but degenerates into an unmusical sound instead</as>. Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty.</def>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>To fall out; to terminate friendship.</def>

<blockquote>To <b>break upon</b> the score of danger or expense is to be mean and narrow-spirited. <i>Collier.</i></blockquote>

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

<cs><col>To break away</col>, <cd>to disengage one's self abruptly; to come or go away against resistance.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>Fear me not, man; I will not <b>break away</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>To break down</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>To come down by breaking; <as>as, the coach <ex>broke down</ex></as>.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>To fail in any undertaking.</cd>

<blockquote>He had <b>broken down</b> almost at the outset. <i>Thackeray.</i></blockquote>

-- <col>To break forth</col>, <cd>to issue; to come out suddenly, as sound, light, etc.</cd> "Then shall thy light <i>break forth</i> as the morning."