a. [WELL adv. 32 + BREATHED 1 and 6.] Sound or strong of wind; exercised so as to be in good wind; not out of breath.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xviii. 758. He is a noble knyghte, and a myghty man, and wel brethed.
1475. Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.), 76. To make hem hardie, deliver, and wele brethed.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 678. And on thy well-breathed horse keep with thy hounds.’
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. III. Law, 182. A well-breath’d Body, nimble, sound, and strong.
1673. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, IV. i. 54. I, take heat after heat, like a well-breath’d Courser.
1720. Pope, Iliad, XXI. 244. As through the forest … The well-breath’d beagle drives the flying fawn.
1828–43. Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), I. 120. Bruce … saw, too, that his own infantry were still fresh and well-breathed.
1849. J. Forbes, Physician’s Holiday, ii. (1850), 13. The experienced, well-breathed, and robust traveller.
b. said of a speaker or reciter.
1647. N. Ward, Simple Cobler (1843), 16. It is a most toylsome taske to run … after a well-breath’d Opinionist.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., I. 631. To speak the rest, who better are forgot, Would tire a well-breath’d Witness of the Plot.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang. ix. A less matter would hold a well-breathed minstrel in subject for recitation for a calendar month.
