Part of Speech: verb
Pronunciation: [brUk]
Definition: To put up with or stand for; to tolerate.
Usage: There are not many ways to use this word, but because it's unusual, it could carry some weight. "I'll brook no more prevarication; tell me where you were all night or pack your bags." On the contrary, "Che will brook any amount of nonsense as long as his girlfriend keeps his number on speed-dial."
Suggested Usage: Although its etymological roots mean "to use, enjoy," the current meaning of "brook" suggests that one has stomached just about enough.
Etymology: Today's word is a homonym of brook "creek or stream," but the two come to us by different etymological paths. The "creek" version derives from Middle English and Old English "broc." "Broc" is related to the Old High German bruoh "marshy ground." The "tolerate" version is from Middle English "brouken," from Old English brucan "to use, to enjoy." This word is akin to German brauchen "to need," and Latin fruor, fructus "to enjoy." They share an ancestor in PIE *bhrug-. Grimm's Law, a guiding principle in linguistics, tells us that PIE initial *bh converts regularly to "f" in Latin, e.g. English "bear" : Latin "fero" [I carry, bear], "brother" : "frater", etc. (Thanks to Dalyn Cook, who will brook no threat to the survival of this word in English. We stand with her.)
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