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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Broken ground

Broken \Bro"ken\ (br[=o]"k'n), a. [From Break, v. t.]

  1. Separated into parts or pieces by violence; divided into fragments; as, a broken chain or rope; a broken dish.

  2. Disconnected; not continuous; also, rough; uneven; as, a broken surface.

  3. Fractured; cracked; disunited; sundered; strained; apart; as, a broken reed; broken friendship.

  4. Made infirm or weak, by disease, age, or hardships.

    The one being who remembered him as he been before his mind was broken.
    --G. Eliot.

    The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay, Sat by his fire, and talked the night away.
    --Goldsmith.

  5. Subdued; humbled; contrite.

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
    --Ps. li. 17.

  6. Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse.

  7. Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope; blighted. ``Her broken love and life.''
    --G. Eliot.

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

  9. Ruined financially; incapable of redeeming promises made, or of paying debts incurred; as, a broken bank; a broken tradesman.

  10. Imperfectly spoken, as by a foreigner; as, broken English; imperfectly spoken on account of emotion; as, to say a few broken words at parting. Amidst the broken words and loud weeping of those grave senators. --Macaulay. Broken ground.

    1. (Mil.) Rough or uneven ground; as, the troops were retarded in their advance by broken ground.

    2. Ground recently opened with the plow.

      Broken line (Geom.), the straight lines which join a number of given points taken in some specified order.

      Broken meat, fragments of meat or other food.

      Broken number, a fraction.

      Broken weather, unsettled weather.