Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BOR'ROW, v.t. [Sax. borgian, to borrow; D. borgen, to borrow, lend or trust; Ger. borgen, the same; Dan. borger, to borrow; borgen, bail, surety, pledge, warranter, main-pernor; borg, trust, credit; Sw. borgan, a giving bail; borg, a fortress. The primary sense is, to make fast or secure.]

1. To take from another by request and consent, with a view to use the thing taken for a time, and return it, or if the thing taken is to be consumed or transferred in the use, then to return an equivalent in kind; as, to borrow a book, a sum of money or a loaf of bread. It is opposed to lend.
2. To take from another, for one's own use; to copy or select from the writings of another author; as, to borrow a passage from a printed book; to borrow a title.
3. To take or adopt for one's own use, sentiments, principles, doctrines and the like; as, to borrow instruction.
4. To take for use something that belongs to another; to assume, copy or imitate; as, to borrow a shape; to borrow the manners of another, or his style of writing.