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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Disconnected; not continuous; also, rough; uneven; as, a broken surface. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Fractured; cracked; disunited; sundered; strained; apart; as, a broken reed; broken friendship. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Made infirm or weak, by disease, age, or hardships. [ 1913 Webster ] The one being who remembered him as he been before his mind was broken. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ] The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,
Sat by his fire, and talked the night away. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Subdued; humbled; contrite. [ 1913 Webster ] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. Ps. li. 17. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope; blighted. “Her broken love and life.” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. Not carried into effect; not adhered to; violated; as, a broken promise, vow, or contract; a broken law. [ 1913 Webster ] 9. Ruined financially; incapable of redeeming promises made, or of paying debts incurred; as, a broken bank; a broken tradesman. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Amidst the broken words and loud weeping of those grave senators. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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