Breach of promise

Breach of promise
Breach Breach (br[=e]ch), n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. br[ae]k, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See {Break}, and cf. {Brake} (the instrument), {Brack} a break] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense. [1913 Webster]

2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise. [1913 Webster]

3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture. [1913 Webster]

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf. [1913 Webster]

The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. --2 Sam. v. 20. [1913 Webster]

{A clear breach} implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking.

{A clean breach} implies that everything on deck is swept away. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. [1913 Webster]

5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture. [1913 Webster]

There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. A bruise; a wound. [1913 Webster]

Breach for breach, eye for eye. --Lev. xxiv. 20. [1913 Webster]

7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture. [1913 Webster]

8. A breaking out upon; an assault. [1913 Webster]

The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. --1. Chron. xiii. 11. [1913 Webster]

{Breach of falth}, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust.

{Breach of peace}, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace.

{Breach of privilege}, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. --Mozley. Abbott. [1913 Webster]

{Breach of promise}, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry.

{Breach of trust}, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • breach of promise — index dishonor (nonpayment), disloyalty, infidelity, infraction, nonperformance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 20 …   Law dictionary

  • Breach of promise — is a former common law tort. From at least medieval times until the early 20th century, a man s promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract. If the man were to subsequently change his… …   Wikipedia

  • breach of promise — n. a breaking of a promise, esp. a promise to marry …   English World dictionary

  • breach of promise — ► breach of promise the breaking of a sworn assurance. Main Entry: ↑breach …   English terms dictionary

  • breach of promise — noun failure to keep a promise (of marriage) • Hypernyms: ↑breach of contract * * * : violation of one s plighted word, especially of a promise to marry * * * Law. a violation of one s promise, esp. of a promise to marry a specific person. [1580… …   Useful english dictionary

  • breach of promise — Literally the failure to perform a promise, but known to the law and also to laymen as breach of promise of marriage. 12 Am J2d Breach P § 1 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • breach of promise — breach′ of prom′ise n. Law. law a violation of one s promise, esp. the promise of a man to marry a specific woman • Etymology: 1580–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • breach of promise — Synonyms and related words: Punic faith, bad faith, barratry, breach, breach of contract, breach of faith, breach of privilege, breach of trust, breaking, contravention, dereliction, disaffection, disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • breach of promise — Law. a violation of one s promise, esp. of a promise to marry a specific person. [1580 90] * * * …   Universalium

  • breach of promise — breaking of a promise, failure to keep a promise …   English contemporary dictionary

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