v. i. [ See Broker, and cf. Brook. ] 1. To transact business for another. [ R. ] Brome. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To act as procurer in love matters; to pimp. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We do want a certain necessary woman to broke between them, Cupid said. Fanshawe. [ 1913 Webster ]

And brokes with all that can in such a suit
Corrupt the tender honor of a maid. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. & p. p. of Break. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

a. 1. Having a broken back; as, a broken-backed chair. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) Hogged; so weakened in the frame as to droop at each end; -- said of a ship. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a ruptured belly. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. Abscess of the mammary gland. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Having the spirits depressed or crushed by grief or despair. [ 1913 Webster ]

She left her husband almost broken-hearted. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Disconsolable; heart-broken; inconsolable; comfortless; woe-begone; forlorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a broken, interrupted manner; in a broken state; in broken language. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pagans worship God . . . as it were brokenly and by piecemeal. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state or quality of being broken; unevenness. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Contrition; as, brokenness of heart. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Far.) The heaves. [ 1913 Webster ]