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uts, but now usually applied to a permanent structure or set of buildings. He lodged in a miserable hut or barrack, composed of dry branches and thatched with straw. Gibbon.

To elude, or evade by craft; to foil. [Obs.] When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage. Shak.

A vow; a promise. [Obs.] The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that I have made. Paston.

To promise; to vow. Behight by vow unto the chaste Minerve. Surrey.

ties, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing,…

To promise; to name. [Obs.]

Promised; vowed. [Obs.] Spenser.

To lead astray, as a maiden; to seduce (as under promise of marriage) and then abandon.

To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman. He, in the first flower of my freshest age, Betrothed me unto the only heir. Spenser. Ay, and we are betrothed. Shak.

The act of betrothing, or the fact of being betrothed; a mutual promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance. "The feast of betrothal." Longfellow.

to , to defy openly; to brave. -- To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise; to seem likely.

Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other. Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton.

althful, growing youth and vigor; to show beauty and freshness, as of flowers; to give promise, as by or with flowers. A better country blooms to view, Beneath a brighter sky. Logan.

A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that gives rich promise. In the blossom of my youth. Massinger.

do not intend to do a fair and honest business and that offer investments that do not promise a fair return; -- so called because the promises made by some investment companies are as boundless or alluring as the blue sky, or, perhaps, because designed to clear away the clouds and fogs from the simple investor's horiz…

y obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise.

To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise. Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray. Milton

A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, voter, or other person in a position of trust. Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe. Hobart.

Not carried into effect; not adhered to; violated; as, a broken promise, vow, or contract; a broken law.

To be like a bud in respect to youth and freshness, or growth and promise; as, a budding virgin. Shak.