different between broke vs peniless

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: br?k, IPA^(key): /b???k/
• (General American) enPR: br?k, IPA^(key): /b?o?k/
• Rhymes: -??k

Etymology 1

Ablauted form of break.

Verb

broke

1. simple past tense of break
2. (archaic, nonstandard or poetic) past participle of break
   • 1999 October 3, J. Stewart Burns, "Mars University", Futurama, season 2, episode 2, Fox Broadcasting Company

     Guenther: I guess the hat must have broke my fall.

Adjective

broke (not generally comparable, comparative broker or more broke, superlative brokest or most broke)

1. (informal) Financially ruined, bankrupt.
   • 1665 July 6, Samuel Pepys, Vol. VI, p. 150:

     It seems some of his Creditors have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in his absence.

2. (informal) Without any money, penniless.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:impoverished

3. (archaic, now informal) Broken.
   • 2011, Mike Major, Fran Devereux Smith, Ranch-Horse Versatility: A Winner's Guide to Successful Rides

     A broke horse tries to do anything I want, and that is expected of any horse.

4. (nautical) Demoted, deprived of a commission.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English broce, from Old English gebroc (“fragment”), from brecan (“to break”). Compare broken, past participle of break. Compare also Scots brock (“a scrap of meat or bread”).

Noun

broke (plural brokes)

1. (papermaking) Paper or board that is discarded and repulped during the manufacturing process.
   • 1914, The World's Paper Trade Review, Volume 62, page 204:

     Presumably, most of the brokes and waste were used up in this manner, and during the manufacture of the coarse stuff little or no attention was paid to either cleanliness or colour.

   • 2014 September 25, Judge Diane Wood, NCR Corp. v. George A. Whiting Paper Co.:

     These mills purchase broke from other paper mills through middlemen and use it to make paper.

2. (obsolete) A fragment, remains, a piece broken off.

References

Etymology 3

Back-formation from broker.

Verb

broke (third-person singular simple present brokes, present participle broking, simple past and past participle broked)

1. To act as a broker; to transact business for another.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Broome to this entry?)
2. (obsolete) To act as procurer in love matters; to pimp.
   • And brokes with all that can in such a suit / Corrupt the tender honour of a maid.

Etymology 4

Clipping of broke off.

Adjective

broke (comparative more broke, superlative most broke)

1. (slang) Broke off, rich, wealthy

Anagrams

• Borek, Kober, berko, borek