Brook (?), n. [OE. brok,
broke, brook, AS. brōc; akin to D. broek,
LG. brōk, marshy ground, OHG. pruoh, G. bruch
marsh; prob. fr. the root of E. break, so as that it signifies water
breaking through the earth, a spring or brook, as well as a marsh. See
Break, v. t.] A natural stream of water
smaller than a river or creek.
The Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of
brooks of water.
Deut. viii. 7.
Empires itself, as doth an inland brook
Into the main of waters.
Shak.
Brook, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Brooked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Brooking.]
[OE. broken, bruken, to use, enjoy, digest, AS.
br?can; akin to D. gebruiken to use, OHG. pr?hhan,
G. brauchen, gebrauchen, Icel. br?ka, Goth.
br?kjan, and L. frui, to enjoy. Cf. Fruit,
Broker.] 1. To use; to enjoy. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. To bear; to endure; to put up with; to tolerate;
as, young men can not brook restraint. Spenser.
Shall we, who could not brook one lord,
Crouch to the wicked ten?
Macaulay.
3. To deserve; to earn. [Obs.] Sir J.
Hawkins.