beast Hear it!

beast definition

beast (bēst)

noun

  1. Archaic any animal as distinguished from a human being
  2. any large, four-footed animal; sometimes, specif., a domesticated animal
  3. qualities or impulses like an animal's the beast in him
  4. a person who is gross, brutal, vile, etc.

Etymology: ME & OFr beste < L bestia < ? IE base *dheus- > deer

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.
Related Discussions (1)
TopicRepliesLatest Post
A double-headed beast (double edged sword)65 years ago

Browse Forums