brute
brute
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "brute" is:
/bruːt/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
bru (brood):
/b/: voiced bilabial plosive (similar to "b" in "boy")
/r/: alveolar trill (a trilled sound made by vibrating the tip of the tongue)
/uː/: long close back rounded vowel (similar to "oo" in "boot")
t (silent): silent consonant
Word Form Variations
The word "brute" is a pretty simple case:
Singular: brute
Plural: brutes
There are no verb conjugations or other derivations for "brute" that are commonly used in modern English. You might see it used in a more archaic way as an adjective ("brutish"), but that's less frequent.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition:
A large, powerful animal. (Synonyms: beast, creature, monster) (Antonyms: small animal, pet)
A cruel, insensitive, or violent person. (Synonyms: bully, thug, savage) (Antonyms: kind person, compassionate person, gentle soul)
Adjective (less common):
Definition: Resembling a beast in behaviour or character; cruel, brutal. (Synonyms: savage, barbaric, bestial) (Antonyms: civilized, gentle, humane)
Note: "Brute force" is a common term, but it's not a separate word form. It describes using physical strength or direct force without any strategy or finesse.
Examples of Use
Noun (Animal):
Book: "The monstrous brute emerged from the swamp, its roar shaking the very foundations of the castle." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)
Newspaper: "Wildlife officials are searching for a large brute believed to be responsible for livestock attacks in the area." (The New York Times)
Noun (Person):
Online Publication: "The protestors were met with violence by the police brutes who used excessive force to control the crowd." (Activist blog)
Movie: "In the classic Western showdown, the good sheriff faced off against the notorious brute with a reputation for quick draws and cold blood." (Clint Eastwood spaghetti western)
Adjective (Less Common):
Entertainment Platform (Video Game): "The brute enemies in this level require a combination of brute force and clever tactics to defeat." (Fantasy role-playing game)
Public Discourse: "The politician's brute rhetoric only served to further divide the already polarised electorate." (News commentary)
Brute Force:
Science Article: "Scientists are using brute force computing to crack the complex code and unlock the secrets of the human genome." (Scientific journal)
Technical Manual: "If the program encounters an error, it may resort to a brute force method to attempt a solution." (Computer software manual)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Brute
"Et tu, Brute?" (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar) - This iconic line, spoken by Julius Caesar upon being betrayed by his friend Brutus, uses "brute" to express profound shock and disappointment.
"We may fight terrorism through brute force, but the terror that is unleashed in the name of religion can only be challenged through moral courage." (Arundhati Roy, author) - This quote highlights the limitations of "brute force" in addressing complex issues like terrorism.
"Man's nature is not essentially evil. Brute nature has been known to yield to the influence of love." (Mencius, philosopher) - This quote contrasts "brute nature" with the potential for good in humans.
"There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man." (Samuel Butler, writer) - This quote uses "brute" to suggest a kind of loyalty sometimes lacking in humans.
"The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct." (Confucius, philosopher) - This quote creates a hierarchy of learning, placing "brute" at the bottom, relying on instinct rather than reason.
"Most software today is very much like an Egyptian pyramid with millions of bricks piled on top of each other, with no structural integrity, but just done by brute force and thousands of slaves." (Edsger W. Dijkstra, computer scientist) - This quote uses "brute force" to criticize inefficient software development.
"I stand before you tonight not as a politician, but as a mother. A mother who has lost her daughter to a senseless act of violence. And I say to you, we must stop this brutality. We must stop this reign of terror!" (Speech by a fictional character in a movie) - This dramatic quote uses "brutality" to describe extreme violence.
"The revolution is not a picnic party. You do not set out to take power with dance recitals. You take power with violence and insurrection." (Che Guevara, revolutionary) - This quote, though controversial, uses "violence" (a synonym for "brute force") to describe the nature of revolution.
"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." (Michelangelo, artist) - This quote, though not directly using "brute," implies the limitations of a "brute force" approach to achieving goals.
"The human race is faced with a choice which involves the continuation of human existence or global destruction. Let those who desire the war now begin it, but let them also remember that this war will mark the end of civilization and the progress of mankind." (Albert Einstein, scientist) - This quote uses "destruction" as an outcome of "brute force" on a global scale.
Etymology
The word "brute" comes from a long family history! The original ancestor is a Latin word, "brutus," which meant "heavy" or "dull." It wasn't exactly referring to people or animals back then.
Think of it like this: imagine a big, heavy stone. That's the kind of "brute" the Latin word described. Over time, the meaning shifted a bit. It went from something physical and heavy to something more about lacking intelligence or feeling.
Fast forward to French, where they borrowed "brutus" and turned it into "brut." This French word meant "rough" or "unfeeling." Finally, English borrowed "brut" from French in the 1400s and turned it into "brute."
So, the first time "brute" was used in English, it meant something like "lacking reason or intelligence." This meaning fit perfectly to describe both powerful, unthinking animals and cruel, insensitive people. And that's how we use "brute" today!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Brute
Brute force: This refers to using raw power or strength without any finesse or strategy. (e.g., "The programmer resorted to brute force to crack the password.")
A brute of a...: This emphasises the size, strength, or difficulty of something. (e.g., "That was a brute of a hike!")
Show brute strength: This means to rely on physical power to overcome an obstacle.
Treat someone like a brute: This describes treating someone with cruelty or harshness.
Tame the brute: This metaphorically describes bringing someone under control or making them less violent.
Like a bull in a china shop: This idiom describes someone who is clumsy and causes destruction due to their lack of care. (Note: "Bull" is a large, powerful animal, similar to the concept of "brute")
Be as strong as an ox: This idiom describes someone with immense physical strength. (Note: "Ox" is a large, powerful animal, similar to the concept of "brute")
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Source Information
Definition of brute from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
