beast Meaning, Definition & Usage

Beast noun

Etymology

OE. best, beste, OF. beste, F. bête, fr. L. bestia.

Definitions

1. Any living creature; an animal; -- including man, insects, etc. Obs. Chaucer.
2. Any four-footed animal, that may be used for labor, food, or sport; as, a beast of burden.

   A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. Prov. xii. 10.

3. As opposed to man: Any irrational animal.
4. Fig.: A coarse, brutal, filthy, or degraded fellow.
5. A game at cards similar to loo. Obs. Wright.
6. A penalty at beast, omber, etc. Hence: To be beasted, to be beaten at beast, omber, etc. Chaucer. Syn. -- Beast, Brute. When we use these words in a figurative sense, as applicable to human beings, we think of beasts as mere animals governed by animal appetite; and of brutes as being destitute of reason or moral feeling, and governed by unrestrained passion. Hence we speak of beastly appetites; beastly indulgences, etc.; and of brutal manners; brutal inhumanity; brutal ferocity. So, also, we say of a drunkard, that he first made himself a beast, and then treated his family like a brute.