Emily Dickinson Lexicon

broken, adv. [see break, v.]

Inconsistently; unevenly; unsteadily.

broker (-s, -'s), n. [ME < AngloFr. < OFr. < L. 'broach, tap a cask'.] (webplay: money).

Agent; negotiator; bargainer; economic adviser; conductor of business transactions; one who makes financial deals.

Bronte, proper n. [Gk. 'thunder'; see Bell, Currer, proper n.]

Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855); British author of Jane Eyre, The Professor, and Villette; 19th century pastor's daughter; female novelist from Haworth, England; (see ED letters).

bronze, n. [Fr. < It. 'brass or bell-metal'.]

1. Warm hue; brown, red, and gold mixed color.
2. Metal; alloy; compound of copper and tin; [fig.] long-lasting substance; enduring solid.

brooch (-es), n. [ME see broach, v.] (webplay: silver).

Decoration; jeweled pin; ornamental utensil for closing a vest; metal fastener for a blouse, dress, or cloak.

brood (-s), n. [OE < Germanic 'heat,' 'warmth,' 'hatching'; see breed, v.] (webplay: care).

1. Hatch; progeny; nest of baby birds; group of hatchlings; batch of newborn fowls (see Luke 13:34).
2. Flock of birds.

brood, v. [see brood, n. and breed, v.]

Reproduce; procreate; multiply; generate species; hatch offspring; [sense play] worry; care; hover; linger; levitate; dwell on something.

brook (-s), n. [OE] (webplay: river, run, water).

1. Circulation; flow; current of blood; [fig.] sunset; colorful evening sky.
2. Vitality; excitement; internal energy; source of power; [fig.] zeal; fervor; passion; significant feeling; emotional surge.
3. Outpouring; outflow; [fig.] joy; pleasure; delight; refreshing scene; beautiful perspective.
4. Stream; creek; living water; natural flowing current; [fig.] truth; knowledge; intelligence; sublime thought (see Deuteronomy 8:7).
5. Fabric; material; smooth length of cloth; [fig.] pall; shroud; winding sheet; burial clothes.
6. Source; spring; fountainhead.
7. Drenching; drowning place; dangerous waters; [fig.] quenching; extinction; brink of death; limit of human experience.

broom (-s), n. [OE] (webplay: purple, sweeping).

1. Whisk; stirring tool; [fig.] eddy; current; air flow; swirl of wind.
2. Brush plant; dried heather; shrub with yellow flowers; [fig.] shape; shadow; ray of light; cloud pattern.
3. Besom; sweeper; dusting instrument; implement for cleaning; brush with a long handle.
4. Review; critique; inspection; examination; evaluation; retrospection; recollection.
5. Butler; steward; pantryman; custodian; cleaning man; chimney sweep; male household servant.

brother (-s, bretheren), n. [OE; ED uses the older spelling of the stem-vowel plural.]

1. Austin Dickinson; male sibling; man born of the same parents. 2/A13-2 never mind faded forests, Austin … prithee, my Brother, / into my garden come!
2. Associate; colleague; relative; [personification] nearby planet; heavenly body in the same solar system; correlative object in space.
3. Soldier; warrior; compatriot; fighter; enlisted man; participant in a battle; [fig.] hero; savior; rescuer; Christ.
4. Son of Adam; male child of God (see Genesis 4:8).
5. Ally; companion; neighbor; comrade; collaborator; partner.
6. Sibling; person born of the same parents; member of the same family; [fig.] fellow human being (see Genesis 13:8).
7. Peer; parallel entity; [fig.] adjoining land; similar territory; corresponding area.
8. Inhabitant; citizen; denizen; occupant; fellow creature; co-existing being.