The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bear \Bear\ (b[^a]r), v. i.
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To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
--Dryden. -
To suffer, as in carrying a burden.
But man is born to bear.
--Pope. -
To endure with patience; to be patient.
I can not, can not bear.
--Dryden. -
To press; -- with on or upon, or against.
These men bear hard on the suspected party.
--Addison. To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters to bear.
To relate or refer; -- with on or upon; as, how does this bear on the question?
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To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.
Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
--Hawthorne. -
To be situated, as to the point of compass, with respect to something else; as, the land bears N. by E. To bear against, to approach for attack or seizure; as, a lion bears against his prey. [Obs.] To bear away (Naut.), to change the course of a ship, and make her run before the wind. To bear back, to retreat. ``Bearing back from the blows of their sable antagonist.'' --Sir W. Scott. To bear down upon (Naut.), to approach from the windward side; as, the fleet bore down upon the enemy. To bear in with (Naut.), to run or tend toward; as, a ship bears in with the land. To bear off (Naut.), to steer away, as from land. To bear up.
To be supported; to have fortitude; to be firm; not to sink; as, to bear up under afflictions.
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(Naut.) To put the helm up (or to windward) and so put the ship before the wind; to bear away.
--Hamersly.To bear upon (Mil.), to be pointed or situated so as to affect; to be pointed directly against, or so as to hit (the object); as, to bring or plant guns so as to bear upon a fort or a ship; the artillery bore upon the center.
To bear up to, to tend or move toward; as, to bear up to one another.
To bear with, to endure; to be indulgent to; to forbear to resent, oppose, or punish.