boast Meaning, Definition & Usage

Boast intransitive verb

Etymology

OE. bosten, boosten, v., bost, boost, n., noise, boasting; cf. G. bausen, bauschen, to swell, pusten, Dan. puste, Sw. pusta, to blow, Sw. pösa to swell; or W. bostio to boast, bost boast, Gael. bosd. But these last may be from English.

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Boasted; present participle & verbal noun Boasting

Definitions

1. To vaunt one's self; to brag; to say or tell things which are intended to give others a high opinion of one's self or of things belonging to one's self; as, to boast of one's exploits courage, descent, wealth.

   By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: .. not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. ii. 8, 9.

2. To speak in exulting language of another; to glory; to exult.

   In God we boast all the day long. Ps. xiiv. 8

   Syn. -- To brag; bluster; vapor; crow; talk big.

Boast transitive verb

Definitions

1. To display in ostentatious language; to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation; to extol.

   Lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds. Milton.

2. To display vaingloriously.
3. To possess or have; as, to boast a name.

   Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Prov. xxvii.

Boast transitive verb

Etymology

Of uncertain etymology.

Definitions

1. (Masonry) To dress, as a stone, with a broad chisel. Weale.
2. (Sculp.) To shape roughly as a preparation for the finer work to follow; to cut to the general form required.

Boast noun

Definitions

1. Act of boasting; vaunting or bragging.

   Reason and morals? and where live they most, In Christian comfort, or in Stoic boast! Byron.

2. The cause of boasting; occasion of pride or exultation, -- sometimes of laudable pride or exultation.

   The boast of historians. Macaulay.