Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Beast
Beast
(bēst)
, Noun.
[OE.
best
, beste
, OF. beste
, F. bête
, fr. L. bestia
.] 1.
Any living creature; an animal; – including man, insects, etc.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
Any four-footed animal, that may be used for labor, food, or sport;
as, a
. beast
of burdenA righteous man regardeth the life of his
beast
. Prov. xii. 10.
3.
any animal other than a human; – opposed to
man
. ’Tain't a fit night out for man nor
beast
.W. C. Fields.
4.
Fig.: A coarse, brutal, filthy, or degraded fellow.
5.
A game at cards similar to loo.
[Obs.]
Wright.
6.
A penalty at beast, omber, etc. Hence: To be beasted, to be beaten at beast, omber, etc.
Beast royal
, the lion.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
When we use these words in a figurative sense, as applicable to human beings, we think of beasts as mere animals governed by animal appetite; and of brutes as being destitute of reason or moral feeling, and governed by unrestrained passion. Hence we speak of beastly appetites; beastly indulgences, etc.; and of brutal manners; brutal inhumanity; brutal ferocity. So, also, we say of a drunkard, that he first made himself a beast, and then treated his family like a brute.
Webster 1828 Edition
Beast
BEAST
,Noun.
1.
Any four footed animal, which may be used for labor, food or sport; distinguished from fowls, insects, fishes and man; as beasts of burden, beasts of the chase, beasts of the forest. It is usually applied to large animals.2.
Opposed to man, it signifies any irrational animal, as in the phrase 'man and beast.' So wild beast.3.
Figuratively, a brutal man; a person rude, coarse, filthy, or acting in a manner unworthy of a rational creature.4.
A game at cards. Hence to beast.