Word of the Month: Brook

David Zapatka

While reading Esoteric Astrology by Alice A Bailey, I read, “He is instantly aware, once he is spiritually awakened, of his motivating impulses, and this leads him to an imposed self-discipline-the thing the Leo subject sorely needs and which must always be self-imposed and self-applied for he brooks no disciplinary measures which others may seek to impose.”

Brook—bruk, verb 1. to stand for 2. tolerate

Etymology—Middle English brouken, broken “to have the benefit of, enjoy, employ, use, eat or drink, stomach, tolerate,” going back to Old English brūcan “to enjoy the use of, use, employ, partake (of food or drink), possess,” going back to Germanic *brūkan-/*brūkjan- (whence also Old Frisian brūka “to make use of, employ,” Old Saxon brūkan “to enjoy the use of,” Middle Dutch brūken “to use, enjoy,” Old High German brūchan “to enjoy the use of,” Gothic brūhjan “to use”), going back to dialectal Indo-European *bhruHg- “enjoy, use” whence also Latin fruor, fruī “to enjoy the produce or proceeds of, derive advantage from, be blessed with, derive pleasure from”

First Known Use—1530

Brook is also a noun and a fairly common first name. Historically, the use of “Brook” as a name has its roots in geographic nomenclature. In medieval England, individuals often took on surnames related to the physical characteristics of the land they resided near or in. Someone living by a brook might take on the surname Brook or Brooks. Over time, this practice moved from surnames to first names, leading to the adoption of “Brook” as a given name.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the name “Brook” gradually saw increased usage, influenced by literary works and a growing appreciation for nature-inspired names. As societies moved toward urbanization, names rooted in natural elements like “Brook” provided a nostalgic connection to the pastoral and bucolic past.

Brook used in a sentence:

I will not brook insults from my own employees.

Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew.

The realities of modern war do not brook much choice in the matter.

Brook used on the web:

That alliance was the clearest warning yet that the gangs would brook no challenges to their positiona sense of impunity that is being replicated by criminal organizations in country after country across Latin America.Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024

Sure, his populist, vaccine-skeptical audience overlaps to some extent with that of DeSantis, and there is some entertainment value to be had in reminding people that the Democrats brook no dissent.Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024

Republicans in their states are fiercely loyal to Trump and would not brook dissent.David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 15 Jan. 2020

And the world’s second biggest economy brooks no dissent.The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2019

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