What does "brook" mean?

Brook: Empires itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To use; to enjoy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  2. 3.To bear; to endure; to put up with; to tolerate; as, young men can not brook restraint. Spenser. Shall we, who could not brook one lord, Crouch to the wicked ten Macaulay.
  3. 4.To deserve; to earn. [Obs.] Sir J. Hawkins.

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