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broken

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broken


  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Break  \Break\,  v.  t.  [imp.  {broke},  (Obs.  {Brake});  p.  p. 
  {Broken},  (Obs.  {Broke});  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Breaking}.]  [OE. 
  breken,  AS  brecan;  akin  to  OS  brekan,  D.  breken,  OHG. 
  brehhan  G.  brechen,  Icel.  braka  to  creak,  Sw  braka, 
  br["a]kka  to  crack,  Dan.  br[ae]kke  to  break,  Goth.  brikan  to 
  break,  L.  frangere  Cf  {Bray}  to  pound,  {Breach}, 
  {Fragile}.] 
  1.  To  strain  apart;  to  sever  by  fracture;  to  divide  with 
  violence;  as  to  break  a  rope  or  chain;  to  break  a  seal; 
  to  break  an  axle;  to  break  rocks  or  coal;  to  break  a  lock. 
  --Shak. 
 
  2.  To  lay  open  as  by  breaking;  to  divide;  as  to  break  a 
  package  of  goods. 
 
  3.  To  lay  open  as  a  purpose;  to  disclose,  divulge,  or 
  communicate. 
 
  Katharine  break  thy  mind  to  me  --Shak. 
 
  4.  To  infringe  or  violate,  as  an  obligation,  law,  or  promise. 
 
  Out  out  hyena!  these  are  thy  wonted  arts  .  .  .  To 
  break  all  faith,  all  vows,  deceive,  betray.  --Milton 
 
  5.  To  interrupt;  to  destroy  the  continuity  of  to  dissolve  or 
  terminate;  as  to  break  silence;  to  break  one's  sleep;  to 
  break  one's  journey. 
 
  Go  release  them  Ariel;  My  charms  I'll  break,  their 
  senses  I'll  restore.  --Shak. 
 
  6.  To  destroy  the  completeness  of  to  remove  a  part  from  as 
  to  break  a  set 
 
  7.  To  destroy  the  arrangement  of  to  throw  into  disorder;  to 
  pierce;  as  the  cavalry  were  not  able  to  break  the  British 
  squares. 
 
  8.  To  shatter  to  pieces;  to  reduce  to  fragments. 
 
  The  victim  broke  in  pieces  the  musical  instruments 
  with  which  he  had  solaced  the  hours  of  captivity. 
  --Prescott. 
 
  9.  To  exchange  for  other  money  or  currency  of  smaller 
  denomination;  as  to  break  a  five  dollar  bill. 
 
  10.  To  destroy  the  strength,  firmness,  or  consistency  of  as 
  to  break  flax. 
 
  11.  To  weaken  or  impair,  as  health,  spirit,  or  mind. 
 
  An  old  man,  broken  with  the  storms  of  state. 
  --Shak. 
 
  12.  To  diminish  the  force  of  to  lessen  the  shock  of  as  a 
  fall  or  blow. 
 
  I'll  rather  leap  down  first  and  break  your  fall. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  13.  To  impart,  as  news  or  information;  to  broach;  --  with  to 
  and  often  with  a  modified  word  implying  some  reserve;  as 
  to  break  the  news  gently  to  the  widow;  to  break  a  purpose 
  cautiously  to  a  friend. 
 
  14.  To  tame;  to  reduce  to  subjection;  to  make  tractable;  to 
  discipline;  as  to  break  a  horse  to  the  harness  or 
  saddle.  ``To  break  a  colt.''  --Spenser. 
 
  Why,  then  thou  canst  not  break  her  to  the  lute? 
  --Shak. 
 
  15.  To  destroy  the  financial  credit  of  to  make  bankrupt;  to 
  ruin. 
 
  With  arts  like  these  rich  Matho,  when  he  speaks, 
  Attracts  all  fees,  and  little  lawyers  breaks. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  16.  To  destroy  the  official  character  and  standing  of  to 
  cashier;  to  dismiss. 
 
  I  see  a  great  officer  broken.  --Swift. 
 
  Note:  With  prepositions  or  adverbs: 
 
  {To  break  down}. 
  a  To  crush;  to  overwhelm;  as  to  break  down  one's 
  strength;  to  break  down  opposition. 
  b  To  remove,  or  open  a  way  through  by  breaking;  as  to 
  break  down  a  door  or  wall. 
 
  {To  break  in}. 
  a  To  force  in  as  to  break  in  a  door. 
  b  To  train;  to  discipline;  as  a  horse  well  broken  in 
 
 
  {To  break  of},  to  rid  of  to  cause  to  abandon;  as  to  break 
  one  of  a  habit. 
 
  {To  break  off}. 
  a  To  separate  by  breaking;  as  to  break  off  a  twig. 
  b  To  stop  suddenly;  to  abandon.  ``Break  off  thy  sins  by 
  righteousness.''  --Dan.  iv  27. 
 
  {To  break  open},  to  open  by  breaking.  ``Open  the  door,  or  I 
  will  break  it  open.''  --Shak. 
 
  {To  break  out},  to  take  or  force  out  by  breaking;  as  to 
  break  out  a  pane  of  glass. 
 
  {To  break  out  a  cargo},  to  unstow  a  cargo,  so  as  to  unload  it 
  easily. 
 
  {To  break  through}. 
  a  To  make  an  opening  through  as  as  by  violence  or  the 
  force  of  gravity;  to  pass  violently  through  as  to 
  break  through  the  enemy's  lines;  to  break  through  the 
  ice. 
  b  To  disregard;  as  to  break  through  the  ceremony. 
 
  {To  break  up}. 
  a  To  separate  into  parts  to  plow  (new  or  fallow 
  ground).  ``Break  up  this  capon.''  --Shak.  ``Break  up 
  your  fallow  ground.''  --Jer.  iv  3. 
  b  To  dissolve;  to  put  an  end  to  ``Break  up  the 
  court.''  --Shak. 
 
  {To  break}  one  {all  up},  to  unsettle  or  disconcert 
  completely;  to  upset.  [Colloq.] 
 
  Note:  With  an  immediate  object: 
 
  {To  break  the  back}. 
  a  To  dislocate  the  backbone;  hence  to  disable  totally. 
  b  To  get  through  the  worst  part  of  as  to  break  the 
  back  of  a  difficult  undertaking. 
 
  {To  break  bulk},  to  destroy  the  entirety  of  a  load  by 
  removing  a  portion  of  it  to  begin  to  unload;  also  to 
  transfer  in  detail,  as  from  boats  to  cars. 
 
  {To  break  cover},  to  burst  forth  from  a  protecting 
  concealment,  as  game  when  hunted. 
 
  {To  break  a  deer}  or  {stag},  to  cut  it  up  and  apportion  the 
  parts  among  those  entitled  to  a  share. 
 
  {To  break  fast},  to  partake  of  food  after  abstinence.  See 
  {Breakfast}. 
 
  {To  break  ground}. 
  a  To  open  the  earth  as  for  planting;  to  commence 
  excavation,  as  for  building,  siege  operations,  and 
  the  like  as  to  break  ground  for  a  foundation,  a 
  canal,  or  a  railroad. 
  b  Fig.:  To  begin  to  execute  any  plan 
  c  (Naut.)  To  release  the  anchor  from  the  bottom. 
 
  {To  break  the  heart},  to  crush  or  overwhelm  one  with  grief. 
 
 
  {To  break  a  house}  (Law),  to  remove  or  set  aside  with 
  violence  and  a  felonious  intent  any  part  of  a  house  or  of 
  the  fastenings  provided  to  secure  it 
 
  {To  break  the  ice},  to  get  through  first  difficulties;  to 
  overcome  obstacles  and  make  a  beginning;  to  introduce  a 
  subject. 
 
  {To  break  jail},  to  escape  from  confinement  in  jail,  usually 
  by  forcible  means 
 
  {To  break  a  jest},  to  utter  a  jest.  ``Patroclus  .  .  .  the 
  livelong  day  breaks  scurril  jests.''  --Shak. 
 
  {To  break  joints},  to  lay  or  arrange  bricks,  shingles,  etc., 
  so  that  the  joints  in  one  course  shall  not  coincide  with 
  those  in  the  preceding  course. 
 
  {To  break  a  lance},  to  engage  in  a  tilt  or  contest. 
 
  {To  break  the  neck},  to  dislocate  the  joints  of  the  neck. 
 
  {To  break  no  squares},  to  create  no  trouble.  [Obs.] 
 
  {To  break  a  path},  {road},  etc.,  to  open  a  way  through 
  obstacles  by  force  or  labor. 
 
  {To  break  upon  a  wheel},  to  execute  or  torture,  as  a  criminal 
  by  stretching  him  upon  a  wheel,  and  breaking  his  limbs 
  with  an  iron  bar;  --  a  mode  of  punishment  formerly 
  employed  in  some  countries. 
 
  {To  break  wind},  to  give  vent  to  wind  from  the  anus. 
 
  Syn:  To  dispart;  rend;  tear;  shatter;  batter;  violate; 
  infringe;  demolish;  destroy;  burst;  dislocate. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Broken  \Bro"ken\  (br[=o]"k'n),  a.  [From  {Break},  v.  t.] 
  1.  Separated  into  parts  or  pieces  by  violence;  divided  into 
  fragments;  as  a  broken  chain  or  rope;  a  broken  dish. 
 
  2.  Disconnected;  not  continuous;  also  rough;  uneven;  as  a 
  broken  surface. 
 
  3.  Fractured;  cracked;  disunited;  sundered;  strained;  apart; 
  as  a  broken  reed;  broken  friendship. 
 
  4.  Made  infirm  or  weak,  by  disease,  age,  or  hardships. 
 
  The  one  being  who  remembered  him  as  he  been  before 
  his  mind  was  broken.  --G.  Eliot. 
 
  The  broken  soldier,  kindly  bade  to  stay,  Sat  by  his 
  fire,  and  talked  the  night  away  --Goldsmith. 
 
  5.  Subdued;  humbled;  contrite. 
 
  The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken  spirit.  --Ps.  li 
  17. 
 
  6.  Subjugated;  trained  for  use  as  a  horse. 
 
  7.  Crushed  and  ruined  as  by  something  that  destroys  hope; 
  blighted.  ``Her  broken  love  and  life.''  --G.  Eliot. 
 
  8.  Not  carried  into  effect;  not  adhered  to  violated;  as  a 
  broken  promise,  vow,  or  contract;  a  broken  law. 
 
  9.  Ruined  financially;  incapable  of  redeeming  promises  made 
  or  of  paying  debts  incurred;  as  a  broken  bank;  a  broken 
  tradesman. 
 
  10.  Imperfectly  spoken,  as  by  a  foreigner;  as  broken 
  English;  imperfectly  spoken  on  account  of  emotion;  as  to 
  say  a  few  broken  words  at  parting. 
 
  Amidst  the  broken  words  and  loud  weeping  of  those 
  grave  senators.  --Macaulay. 
 
  {Broken  ground}. 
  a  (Mil.)  Rough  or  uneven  ground;  as  the  troops  were 
  retarded  in  their  advance  by  broken  ground. 
  b  Ground  recently  opened  with  the  plow. 
 
  {Broken  line}  (Geom.),  the  straight  lines  which  join  a  number 
  of  given  points  taken  in  some  specified  order 
 
  {Broken  meat},  fragments  of  meat  or  other  food. 
 
  {Broken  number},  a  fraction. 
 
  {Broken  weather},  unsettled  weather. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  broken 
  adj  1:  physically  and  forcibly  separated  into  pieces  or  cracked  or 
  split;  or  legally  or  emotionally  destroyed;  "a  broken 
  mirror";  "a  broken  tooth";  "a  broken  leg";  "his  neck 
  is  broken";  "children  from  broken  homes";  "a  broken 
  marriage";  "a  broken  heart"  [ant:  {unbroken}] 
  2:  not  continuous  in  space,  time,  or  sequence  or  varying 
  abruptly;  "broken  lines  of  defense";  "a  broken  cable 
  transmission";  "broken  sleep";  "tear  off  the  stub  above 
  the  broken  line";  "a  broken  note";  "broken  sobs"  [ant:  {unbroken}] 
  3:  subdued  or  brought  low  in  condition  or  status;  "brought 
  low";  "a  broken  man";  "his  broken  spirit"  [syn:  {crushed}, 
  {humbled},  {humiliated},  {low}] 
  4:  (especially  of  promises  or  contracts)  having  been  violated 
  or  disregarded;  "broken  (or  unkept)  promises";  "broken 
  contracts"  [syn:  {unkept}]  [ant:  {unbroken}] 
  5:  tamed  or  trained  to  obey;  "a  horse  broken  to  the  saddle"; 
  "this  old  nag  is  well  broken  in"  [syn:  {broken  in}] 
  6:  topographically  very  uneven;  "broken  terrain";  "rugged 
  ground"  [syn:  {rugged}] 
  7:  imperfectly  spoken  or  written;  "broken  English" 
  8:  thrown  into  a  state  of  disarray  or  confusion;  "troops 
  fleeing  in  broken  ranks";  "a  confused  mass  of  papers  on 
  the  desk";  "the  small  disordered  room";  "with  everything 
  so  upset"  [syn:  {confused},  {disordered},  {upset}] 
  9:  weakened  and  infirm;  "broken  health  resulting  from 
  alcoholism" 
  10:  destroyed  financially;  "the  broken  fortunes  of  the  family" 
  [syn:  {wiped  out(p)},  {impoverished}] 
  11:  out  of  working  order  "a  broken  washing  machine";  "the  coke 
  machine  is  broken";  (`busted'  is  an  informal  substitute 
  for  `broken'  as  in  "the  coke  machine  is  busted")  [syn:  {busted}] 
  12:  (meteorology)  discontinuous;  "broken  clouds";  "broken 
  sunshine" 
  13:  lacking  a  part  or  parts  "a  broken  set  of  encyclopedia" 
 
  From  Jargon  File  (4.2.3,  23  NOV  2000)  [jargon]: 
 
  broken  adj  1.  Not  working  properly  (of  programs).  2. 
  Behaving  strangely;  especially  (when  used  of  people)  exhibiting  extreme 
  depression. 
 
 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  broken 
 
  Not  working  properly  (of  programs). 
 
 




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