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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Brook

Brōōk, n.

noun

(27), n. [O. Eng. brok, broke, brooke, A-S. brōc, brook, rivulet, spring, D. broek; L. Ger. brōk, O. H. Ger. pruoh, M. H. Ger. bruoch, N. H. Ger. bruch, marsh. The root is A-S. bracan, or brecan, Eng. to break, q. v., Ger. brechen, so that it signifies water breaking through the earth, spring, brook, as well as broken, swampy, and spongy ground, marsh.] A small natural stream of water, or a current flowing from a spring or fountain less than a river. Empties itself, as doth an inland brook, Into the main of waters. Shak.

Bro͝ok, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [O. Eng. brouke, to use, enjoy, brook, to digest, A-S. brûcan, to eat, enjoy, use, perform, bear, O. H. Ger. prûhhan, prûchan, M. H. Ger. brûchen, N. H. Ger. brauchen, gebrauchen, D. bruiken, gebruiken, Goth. brukjan, to use, to enjoy, to profit, allied to A-S. brecan, Eng. to break, q. v.] To bear; to endure; to be contented with; as, young men can not brook restraint.

Shall we, who could not brook one lord, Crouch to the wicked ten? Macaulay.