Brute, v. t. [For bruit.] To
report; to bruit. [Obs.]
Brute, n. 1. An animal
destitute of human reason; any animal not human; esp. a quadruped; a
beast.
Brutes may be considered as either aëral,
terrestrial, aquatic, or amphibious.
Locke.
2. A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners;
as unfeeling or coarse person.
An ill-natured brute of a husband.
Franklin.
Syn. -- See Beast.
Brute (brût), a. [F. brut, nasc.,
brute, fem., raw, rough, rude, brutish, L. brutus stupid,
irrational: cf. It. & Sp. bruto.] 1. Not having
sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence or
volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of
nature.
2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking;
as, a brute beast; the brute creation.
A creature . . . not prone
And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sanctity of reason.
Milton.
3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute
beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as,
brute violence. Macaulay.
The influence of capital and mere brute labor.
Playfair.
4. Having the physical powers predominating over
the mental; coarse; unpolished; unintelligent.
A great brute farmer from Liddesdale.
Sir W. Scott.
5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [R.]