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(b"d'n), n.[Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byren; akin to Icel. byri, Dan. byrde, Sw. brda, G. brde, OHG. burdi, Goth. barei, fr. the root of E. bear, AS. beran, Goth. bairan. 92. See 1st Bear.] 1. That which is borne or carried; a load. Plants with goodly burden bowing. Shak. 2. That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive. Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone, To all my friends a burden grown. Swift. 3. The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden. 4. (Mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin. 5. (Metal.) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace. Raymond. 6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds. 7. A birth. [Obs. & R.] Shak. Beast of burden, an animal employed in carrying burdens. Burden of proof [L. onus probandi] (Law Bur"den v. t.[imp. & p. p.Burdened (); p. pr. & vb. n.Burdening ().] 1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load. I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened. 2 Cor. viii. 13. 2. To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes. My burdened heart would break. Shak. 3. To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable). [R.] It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell. Coleridge. Syn. -- To load; encumber; overload; oppress. Bur"den (br"d'n), n.[OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL. burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Bourdon.] 1. The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a prayer. I would sing my song without a burden. Shak. 2. The drone of a bagpipe. Ruddiman. Bur"den n.[See Burdon.] A club. [Obs.] Spenser. スポンサード リンク
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