breach (brech)

[ mod. E. break, n., and dial. breek2, q. v.), also brekke (> mod. E. dial. breck, q. v.), E. dial. brick1, a flaw, Sc. brick, a breach, a division of land), Sp. Pg. brecha, a breach, = It. breccia, formerly also brecchia, a breach, a gap, a rupture, = G. bresche, a breach in a wall, etc. The It. breccia, gravel, now technically breccia, = F. brèche, breccia, is closely related, but may be taken from the G.: see breccia. See break, n., breek2, breck, brick1, brack1, brakes, related to and in part identical with breach; see also brick2.] 1. The act of breaking: now used only figuratively of the violation or neglect of a law, contract, or any other obligation, or of a custom. A custom More honour'd in the breach than the observance. Shak., Hamlet, i. 4. The deadliest sin her mind could reach Was of monastic rule the breach . Scott , Marmion, ii. 3. 2. An opening made by breaking down a portion of a solid body, as a wall, a dike, or a river-bank; a rupture; a break; a gap. Could make old Trent, Drunk with my sorrow, to start out in breaches, To drown their herds, their cattle, and their corn. B. Jonson, Sad Shepherd, i. 2. Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it; heal the breaches thereof. Ps. lx. 2. He then led his men to the a ault, taking charge him- self of those who were to storm the breach . Pre scott, Ferd. and Isa., ii. 11. 31. A break or interruption in utterance. And all her sister Nymphes with one consent Supplide her sobbing breaches with sad complement. Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 35. 4. A rupture of friendly relations; difference; quarrel. There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach, Shak . , Othello, iv. 1. 5. Infraction; violation; infringement: as, a breach of the peace, of a promise, or of a con tract. This breach upon kingly power was without precedent. Clarendon. It is no breach of charity to call these fools. Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, ii. 1. The first steps in the breach of a man's integrity are much more important than men are aware of. Steele , Spectator, No. 448. 6. Injury; wound; bruise. Breach for breach , eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Lev. xxiv. 20. 7. The breaking of waves; the dashing of surf. Some hour before you took me from the breach of the sea was my sister drowned. Shak., T. N., ii. 1. We scudded with frightful velocity before the sea, and the water made clear breaches over us. Poe , Tales, I. 154. Breach of arrest, a military offense committed by an officer in arrest who leaves his quarters or limits without authority from his superior officer. It is punishable by cashiering. Breach of arrestment, in Scots law , an act of contempt of legal authority committed by an arrestee disregarding the arrestment used in his hands, and paying the sum or delivering the goods arrested to the common debtor.- Breach of close, in law , an unwarrantable entry on another's land. - Breach of covenant, a violation of a covenant contained in a deed either to do or refrain from doing a direct act. Breach of duty, the failure to execute any office, employment, trust, etc., in a proper manner.--Breach of promise, a violation of one's word or undertaking; non-fulfilment of what one had agreed to do: often used absolutely for breach of promise of mar breach peace, as by a riot, affray, or any tumult which is contrary to law and injurious to the public welfare. - Breach of trust, a violation of duty by a trustee, an executor, or other person in a fiduciary position. To batter' in breach. See batter1.=Syn, 1-4. Rupture, etc. See frac ture.-2. Opening, cleft, chasm, rift, rent, fi ure.-4. Misunderstanding, alienation, disaffection, falling out. breach (brēch), v. [ The first bombardment had in no place succeeded in breaching the walls. C. D. Yonge, Naval Hist. of Gt. Britain. Roaring torrents have breach'd The track. M. Arnold, Rugby Chapel. II. in trans. To spring from the water, as a whale. When the watch at the masthead sees the whale spring from the water, he cries, "There she breaches!" Stand. Nat. Hist., V. 207.