/bɹʌnt/
OriginFrom Middle English brunt, bront (“sudden onset, attack, charge, blow”), from Old Norse brundr or brundtíð (“oestrus, rut”) (from Proto-Germanic *brunstiz), or bruna (“to rush”, literally “to advance like wildfire”) (see brenna).
- The full adverse effects; the chief consequences or negative results of a thing or event.
“Unfortunately, poor areas such as those in New Orleans bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina’s winds.”
“There is an economy in the matter of breakages and repairs, for if the plough should be brought up upon a landfast rock, instead of the brunt coming simply on the draught rope, which would either snap”
“Though the storm raged up the East Coast, it has become increasingly apparent that New Jersey took the brunt of it.”
- The force or shock of an attack in war.
- The major part of something; the bulk.
“If you feel tired of walking, just think of the poor donkey who has carried the brunt of our load.”
- obsoleteA violent attack or charge in battle.
“Tech[elles]. I heare them come, ſhall wee encounter them?
Tam[burlaine]. Keep all your ſtandings, and not ſtir a foot,
Myſelfe will bide the danger of the brunt.”
- broadly, obsoleteA sudden harmful onset or attack (of disease, unbelief, persecution, etc.).
- obsoleteA spurt, a sudden effort or straining.
- rare, transitiveTo bear the brunt of; to weather or withstand.
“"… I say." Ripton resumed the serious intonation, "do you think they'll ever suspect us?"
"What if they do? We must brunt it."
We brunted the storm.”
- intransitive, obsoleteTo make a violent attack or charge.
Formsbrunts(plural) · brunts(present, singular, third-person) · brunting(participle, present) · brunted(participle, past) · brunted(past) · Brunts(plural)