v. [f. L. bruti- (comb. form) BRUTE + -FY.]

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  1.  trans. To render brute-like; to brutalize.

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1668.  Howe, Bless. Righteous, Wks. (1834), 256/2. Religion doth not brutify men.

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1848.  Mill, Pol. Econ., II. v. § 2. Hopeless slavery effectually brutifies the intellect.

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  b.  absol.

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1819.  Scotsman, 9 Jan., 14/3. Their tendency … is to debase and brutify.

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1848.  Mrs. Jameson, Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850), 61. Sin … degrades and brutifies.

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  2.  intr. To become brute-like.

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1794.  Mrs. Piozzi, Synonymy, II. 19. Man unwatched by man brutified for very want of observance.

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  Hence Brutifying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.

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1817.  J. Scott, Paris Revisit. (ed. 4), 56. Measures that were both savage and brutifying.

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1831.  E. E. Crowe, Hist. France, III. ix. 275. A course of brutifying study.

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