Brute | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Brute, a.

adjective

(32), a. [Fr. & Pr. brut, raw, rough, rude, brute, brute, brutish, Lat. brutus, stupid, irrational, It. & Sp. bruto.]

Sense 1. Not having sensation; senseless; unconscious; as, the brute earth.

Sense 2. Not possessing reason; irrational; ferine; as, a brute beast.

A creature . . . not prone And brute as other creatures, but endued With sanctity of reason. Milton.

Sense 3. Not connected with intelligence or intellectual effort; unintelligent; animal; as, brute force.

The influence of capital and mere brute labor. Playfair.

Sense 4. Characteristic of beasts; in common with beasts; bestial; as, brute violence. Macaulay.

Sense 5. Destitute of sentiment and sensibility; rough; uncivilized; insensible; as, a brute philosopher. “A great brute farmer from Liddesdale.” W. Scott.

Brute, n.

noun

n. [See supra.] 1. A beast; any animal destitute of reason. Brutes may be considered as either aerial, terrestrial, aquatic, or amphibious. Locke. 2. A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners; a low-bred, unfeeling man. “An ill-natured brute of a husband.” Franklin.

Brute, v. t.

verbtransitive

[For bruit.] To report; to bruit. [Obs.]