Part 1476

<hw>Bur"den</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <altsp>[Written also <ets>burthen</ets>.]</altsp> <ety>[OE. <ets>burden</ets>, <ets>burthen</ets>, <ets>birthen</ets>, <ets>birden</ets>, AS. <ets>byr&edh;en</ets>; akin to Icel. <ets>byr&edh;i</ets>, Dan. <ets>byrde</ets>, Sw. <ets>b\'94rda</ets>, G. <ets>b\'81rde</ets>, OHG. <ets>burdi</ets>, Goth. <ets>ba\'a3r<?/ei</ets>, fr. the root of E. <ets>bear</ets>, AS. <ets>beran</ets>, Goth. <ets>bairan</ets>. \'fb92. See 1st <er>Bear</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>That which is borne or carried; a load.</def>

<blockquote>Plants with goodly <b>burden</b> bowing. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.</def>

<blockquote>Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone, To all my friends a <b>burden</b> grown. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; <as>as, a ship of a hundred tons <ex>burden</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Mining)</fld> <def>The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Metal.)</fld> <def>The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.</def>

<i>Raymond.</i>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>A fixed quantity of certain commodities; <as>as, a <ex>burden</ex> of gad steel, 120 pounds</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>A birth.</def> <mark>[Obs. & R.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<cs><col>Beast of burden</col>, <cd>an animal employed in carrying burdens.</cd> -- <col>Burden of proof</col> <ety>[L. <ets>onus probandi<ets>]</ety> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Burden</er>, <er>Load</er>.</syn> <usage> A <i>burden</i> is, in the literal sense, a weight to be borne; a <i>load</i> is something <i>laid</i> upon us to be carried. Hence, when used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two words. Our <i>burdens</i> may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a <i>load</i>, we commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men often find the charge of their own families to be a <i>burden</i>; but if to this be added a <i>load</i> of care for others, the pressure is usually serve and irksome.</usage>

<h1>Burden</h1> <Xpage=192>

<hw>Bur"den</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Burdened</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Burdening</er> <tt>(#)</tt>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.</def>

<blockquote>I mean not that other men be eased, and ye <b>burdened</b>. <i>2 Cor. viii. 13.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; <as>as, to <ex>burden</ex> a nation with taxes</as>.</def>

<blockquote>My <b>burdened</b> heart would break. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable).</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>It is absurd to <b>burden</b> this act on Cromwell. <i>Coleridge.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To load; encumber; overload; oppress.</syn>

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<h1>Burden</h1> <Xpage=193>

<hw>Bur"den</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>burdoun</ets> the bass in music, F. <ets>bourdon</ets>; cf. LL. <ets>burdo</ets> drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. <er>Bourdon</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; <as>as, the <ex>burden</ex> of a prayer</as>.</def>

<blockquote>I would sing my song without a <b>burden</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The drone of a bagpipe.</def>

<i>Ruddiman.</i>

<h1>Burden</h1> <Xpage=193>