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Webster 1913 Edition


Breach

Breach

(brēch)
,
Noun.
[OE.
breke
,
breche
, AS.
brice
,
gebrice
,
gebrece
(in comp.), fr.
brecan
to break; akin to Dan.
bræk
, MHG.
breche
, gap, breach. See
Break
, and cf.
Brake
(the instrument),
Brack
a break]
.
1.
The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.
2.
Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment;
as, a
breach
of contract; a
breach
of promise
.
3.
A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture.
Once more unto the
breach
, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
Shakespeare
4.
A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf.
The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the
breach
of waters.
2 Sam. v. 20.
A clear breach
implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking.
–
A clean breach
implies that everything on deck is swept away.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
5.
A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture.
There’s fallen between him and my lord
An unkind
breach
.
Shakespeare
6.
A bruise; a wound.
Breach
for
breach
, eye for eye.
Lev. xxiv. 20.
7.
(Med.)
A hernia; a rupture.
8.
A breaking out upon; an assault.
The Lord had made a
breach
upon Uzza.
1. Chron. xiii. 11.
Breach of falth
,
a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust.
–
Breach of peace
,
disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace.
–
Breach of privilege
,
an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee.
Mozley. Abbott.
-
Breach of promise
,
violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry.
–
Breach of trust
,
violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one.
Syn. – Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.

Breach

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Breached
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Breaching
.]
To make a breach or opening in;
as, to
breach
the walls of a city
.

Breach

,
Verb.
I.
To break the water, as by leaping out; – said of a whale.

Webster 1828 Edition


Breach

BREACH

, n.
1.
The act of breaking; or state of being broken; a rupture; a break; a gap; the space between the severed parts of a solid body parted by violence; as a breach in a garment, or in a wall.
2.
The violation of a law; the violation or non-fulfillment of a contract; the non-performance of a moral duty; non-performance of duty being a breach of obligation, as well as a positive transgression or violation.
Every breach of the public engagements is hurtful to public credit.
3.
An opening in a coast. [Not usual.]
4.
Separation between friends by means of enmity; difference; quarrel.
5.
Infraction; injury; invasion; as a breach upon kingly power.
6.
Bereavement; loss of a friend and its consequent affliction.
7.
A violation of the public peace, as by a riot, affray, or any tumult which is contrary to law, and destructive to the public tranquillity, is called a breach of the peace.

BREACH

,
Verb.
T.
To make a breach, or opening.