brigue meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

brigue

noun

/bɹiːɡ/

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

Obsolete Intrigue; secretive machinations.

the rise and decay of the Papal power , the politics of that Court , the Brigues of the Cardinals , the tricks of the ConclavesOctober 9 1749, Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, in Letters to His Son, published in 1774

verb

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

Obsolete To achieve or obtain by underhand methods.

[W]e 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, [...]1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section I. The Introduction.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC, page 45: