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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Beast \Beast\ (b[=e]st), n. [OE. best, beste, OF. beste, F.
b[^e]te, fr. L. bestia.]
1. Any living creature; an animal; -- including man, insects,
etc. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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2. Any four-footed animal, that may be used for labor, food,
or sport; as, a beast of burden.
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A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.
--Prov. xii.
10.
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3. any animal other than a human; -- opposed to {man}.
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'Tain't a fit night out for man nor beast.
--W. C.
Fields.
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4. Fig.: A coarse, brutal, filthy, or degraded fellow.
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5. A game at cards similar to loo. [Obs.] --Wright.
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6. A penalty at beast, omber, etc. Hence: To be beasted, to
be beaten at beast, omber, etc.
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{Beast royal}, the lion. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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Syn: {Beast}, {Brute}.

Usage: 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.
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