Obs. Forms: 1 brǽdan, brédan, 2–5 brede(n. Pa. t. 1 brǽdde, brédde, 2–4 bradde, 2–5 bredde. Pa. pple. 1 brǽded, brǽdd, 2–3 brad, 3–4 bred(d. [Common Teut.: OE. brǽdan (Angl. brédan) = OFris. brêda, MDu. brâden (Du. braden) str. vb., OHG. brâtan (MHG. brâten, mod.G. braten), str. vb. ‘to roast.’ OTeut. *brǣd-an was apparently a derivative (Aryan type bhrē-dh-) of the verb root *brǣ-, *brê- (Aryan *bhrē-) to burn, heat, warm: see BREATH, BROOD. No traces of the strong inflexions are found in OE., and the vb. passed entirely out of use c. 1500. See also BREDE sb.1] trans. To roast, broil, toast.
a. 1000. Colloq. Monast., 29 (Bosw.). We maʓon brædan ða þing ðe to brædenne synd.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 53. He bindeð vppon þa [mousetrap] swike chese and bret hine for þon þet he scolde swote smelle.
c. 1205. Lay., 25986. His flæsce he gon breden.
a. 1225. Juliana, 170. In led we scholle hire brede.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 6081. It sal noght siþen be bot bred, þis lamb.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 1492. Makes our mete Whether ȝe wole sethe or brede.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 9305. Man and hous thai brent and bredden.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 891. Summe [fishes] brad on þe gledez.
1509. Parl. Devylles, xii. I wyll … in hell his soule brede.
