Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Burden
Bur′den
(bû′d’n)
, Noun.
[Written also
burthen
.] [OE.
burden
, burthen
, birthen
, birden
, AS. byrðen
; akin to Icel. byrði
, Dan. byrde
, Sw. börda
, G. bürde
, OHG. burdi
, Goth. baúrþei
, fr. the root of E. bear
, AS. beran
, Goth. bairan
. √92. See 1st Bear
.] 1.
That which is borne or carried; a load.
Plants with goodly
burden
bowing. Shakespeare
2.
That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone,
To all my friends a
To all my friends a
burden
grown. Swift.
3.
The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry;
as, a ship of a hundred tons
. burden
4.
(Mining)
The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.
5.
(Metal.)
The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.
Raymond.
6.
A fixed quantity of certain commodities;
as, a
. burden
of gad steel, 120 pounds7.
A birth.
[Obs. & R.]
Shak.
Beast of burden
, an animal employed in carrying burdens.
– Burden of proof
[L.
onus probandi
] (Law)
, the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed.
A burden is, in the literal sense, a weight to be borne; a load is something laid upon us to be carried. Hence, when used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two words. Our burdens may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a load, we commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men often find the charge of their own families to be a burden; but if to this be added a load of care for others, the pressure is usually serve and irksome.
Bur′den
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Burdened
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Burdening
.] 1.
To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.
I mean not that other men be eased, and ye
burdened
. 2 Cor. viii. 13.
2.
To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload;
as, to
. burden
a nation with taxesMy
burdened
heart would break. Shakespeare
3.
To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable).
[R.]
It is absurd to
burden
this act on Cromwell. Coleridge.
Syn. – To load; encumber; overload; oppress.
Bur′den
(bûr′d’n)
, Noun.
[OE.
burdoun
the bass in music, F. bourdon
; cf. LL. burdo
drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Bourdon
.] 1.
The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic;
as, the
. burden
of a prayerI would sing my song without a
burden
. Shakespeare
2.
The drone of a bagpipe.
Ruddiman.
Webster 1828 Edition
Burden
BURD'EN
,Noun.
1.
That which is borne or carried; a load. Hence,2.
That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome or oppressive.3.
A birth.4.
The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each verse; the chorus; so called from the application of this word to the drone or base, and the pipe or string which plays it, in an instrument. A chord which is to be divided, to perform the intervals of music,when open and undivided, is also called the burden.5.
In common language, that which is often repeated; a subject on which one dwells.6.
A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.7.
The contents of a ship; the quantity or number of tons, a vessel will carry; as a ship of a hundred tons burden.8.
A club. [Not in use.]BURD'EN
,Verb.
T.
1.
To oppress with any thing grievous; as, to burden a nation with taxes.2.
To surcharge; as, to burden the memory.Definition 2024
Bürden
Bürden
See also: burden
German
Proper noun
Bürden n (genitive Bürdens)
- A small town in Luxembourg; Burden.
Noun
Bürden
- plural of Bürde