Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BREAST'FAST, n. [breast and fast.]

A large rope to confine a ship sidewise to a wharf or key. – Mar. Dict.

BREAST'-HIGH, a. [breast and high.]

High as the breast. – Sidney.

BREAST'HOOK, n. [breast and hook.]

A thick piece of timber placed directly across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side. – Mar. Dict.

BREAST'ING, ppr.

Meeting with the breast; opposing in front.

BREAST'KNOT, n. [breast and knot.]

A knot of ribins worn on the breast. – Addison.

BREAST'PIN, n.

A pin worn for a fastening, or for ornament before the breast.

BREAST'PLATE, n. [breast and plate.]

1. Armor for the breast. – Cowley.
2. A strap that runs across a horse's breast. – Ash.
3. In Jewish antiquity, a part of the vestment of the high priest consisting of a folded piece of the rich embroidered stuff of which the ephod was made. It was set with twelve precious stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes. – Encyc.

BREAST'PLOW, n. [breast and plow.]

A plow, driven by the breast, used to cut or pare turf. – Johnson.

BREAST'ROPE, n. [breast and rope.]

In a ship, breast ropes are used to fasten the yards to the parrels, and with the parrels, to hold the yards fast to the mast; now called parrel ropes.

BREAST'-WORK, n. [breast and work.]

In fortification, a work thrown up for defense; a parapet, – which see.

BREATH, n. [breth; Sax. bræth, odor, scent, breath; G. brodem, steam, vapor, breath.]

1. The air inhaled and expelled in the respiration of animals.
2. Life. No man has more contempt than I of breath. – Dryden.
3. The state or power of breathing freely; opposed to a state of exhaustion from violent action; as, I am out of breath; I am scarce in breath. – Shak.
4. Respit; pause; time to breathe; as, let me take breath; give me some breath. – Shak.
5. Breeze; air in gentle motion. Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea, / When not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface. – Addison.
6. A single respiration; as, he swears at every breath.
7. An instant; the time of a single respiration; a single act. He smiles and he frowns to a breath. – Dryden.
8. A word. A breath can make them, as a breath has made. – Goldsmith.

BREATH'A-BLE, a.

That may be breathed.

BREATH'A-BLE-NESS, n.

State of being breathable.

BREATHE, v.i.

1. To respire; to inspire and expire air. Hence, to live. – Pope. Shak.
2. To take breath; to rest from action; as, let them have time to breathe.
3. To pass as air. To whose foul mouth no wholesome air breathes in. – Shak.

BREATHE, v.t.

1. To inhale as air into the lungs and expel it; as, to breathe vital air. – Dryden.
2. To inject by breathing; to infuse; followed by into. And the Lord God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. – Gen. ii.
3. To expire; to eject by breathing; followed by out; as, to breathe out threatenings and slaughter. – Acts.
4. To exercise; to keep in breath. The greyhounds are as swift as breathed stags. – Shak.
5. To inspire or blow into; to cause to sound by breathing; as, to breathe the flute. – Prior.
6. To exhale; to emit as breath; as, the flowers breathe odors or perfume.
7. To utter softly or in private; as, to breathe a vow. – Shak.
8. To give air or vent to; to open; as, to breathe a vein. [W. brathu, to pierce.] – Johnson. Dryden.
9. To express; to manifest. Other articles breathe the same severe spirit. – Milner.

BREATH'ED, pp.

Inhaled and exhaled; respired; uttered.

BREATH'ER, n.

One that breathes or lives; one that utters; an inspirer, one who animates or infuses by inspiration.

BREATH'FUL, a. [breth'ful.]

Full of breath; full of odor. – Spenser.

BREATH'ING, n.

1. Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.
2. Aspiration; secret prayer. – Prior.
3. Breathing-place; vent. – Dryden.
4. Accent; aspiration.

BREATH'ING, ppr.

1. Respiring; living; uttering.
2. adj. Exhibiting to the life; as, breathing paint. – Pope.

BREATH'ING-PLACE, n.

1. A pause.
2. A vent.

BREATH'ING-TIME, n.

Pause; relaxation. – Hall.

BREATH'LESS, a. [breth'less.]

1. Being out of breath; spent with labor or violent action.
2. Dead; as, a breathless body. – Shak.

BREATH'LESS-NESS, n.

The state of being exhausted of breath. – Hall.

BREC'CIA, n. [It. a breach.]

In mineralogy, an aggregate composed of angular fragments of the same mineral, or of different minerals, united by a cement, and presenting a variety of colors. Sometimes a few of the fragments are a little rounded. The varieties are the silicious, calcarious and trap breccias. – Cleaveland. When rounded stones and angular fragments are united by a cement, the aggregate is usually called coarse conglomerate.