brigue

Etymology

Borrowed from French brigue, of uncertain origin. Compare Italian briga, Spanish brega.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɹiːɡ/

Noun

brigue (plural brigues)

1. (obsolete) Intrigue; secretive machinations.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chesterfield to this entry?)

Verb

brigue (third-person singular simple present brigues, present participle briguing, simple past and past participle brigued)

1. (obsolete) To achieve or obtain by underhand methods.
   • 1704, Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub (Penguin 2004, p. 11)

     We think it very unbecoming our prudence that the determination should be remitted to the authors themselves; when our adversaries, by briguing and caballing, have caused so universal a defection from us, that the greater part of our society has already deserted to them.

Pronunciation

• Homophones: briguent, brigues

Verb

brigue

1. first-person singular present indicative of briguer
2. third-person singular present indicative of briguer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of briguer
4. first-person singular present subjunctive of briguer
5. second-person singular imperative of briguer

Noun

brigue f (plural brigues)

1. (Jersey) brig

Verb

brigue

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of brigar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of brigar
3. first-person singular imperative of brigar
4. third-person singular imperative of brigar