%brute%

a. [ F. brut, nasc., brute, fem., raw, rough, rude, brutish, L. brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp. bruto. ] 1. Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute beast; the brute creation. [ 1913 Webster ]

A creature . . . not prone
And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sanctity of reason. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute violence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The influence of capital and mere brute labor. Playfair. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having the physical powers predominating over the mental; coarse; unpolished; unintelligent. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great brute farmer from Liddesdale. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

brute force, The application of predominantly physical effort to achieve a goal that could be accomplished with less effort if more carefully considered. Figuratively, repetitive or strenuous application of an obvious or simple tactic, as contrasted with a more clever stratagem achieving the same goal with less effort; -- as, the first prime numbers were discovered by the brute force repetition of the Sieve of Eratosthenes. [ PJC ]