Careful Words

breed (n.)

breed (v.)

breed (adj.)

How use doth breed a habit in a man!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Act v. Sc. 4.

For when did friendship take

A breed for barren metal of his friend?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act i. Sc. 3.

This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,

This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,

This other Eden, demi-paradise,

This fortress built by Nature for herself

Against infection and the hand of war,

This happy breed of men, this little world,

This precious stone set in the silver sea,

Which serves it in the office of a wall

Or as a moat defensive to a house,

Against the envy of less happier lands,—

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Richard II. Act ii. Sc. 1.

Conjure with 'em,—

Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.

Now, in the names of all the gods at once,

Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,

That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!

Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Julius Caesar. Act i. Sc. 2.