Obs. or dial. Forms: 1 brǽdan, 2–5 brede(n, 3–7 brede, 6–7 breade, mod.dial. bread, brede, etc. Pa. t. 1 brǽdde, 3 bræd, 4 brad, -de, 4–6 bred, 5 bret, 9 brad. [Common Teut.: OE. brǽdan, corresp. to OS. brêdian, OHG. breiten (MHG. and mod.G. breiten), ON. breiða (Sw. breda, Da. brede), Goth. braidjan, to make broad, f. braid-s, in OE. brád, BROAD.]
1. trans. To make broad; to broaden, dilate.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, I. viii. (Bosw.). Hi heora stowe bræddon.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 49. Bredyn or make more brode, dilato.
1674. Ray, N. C. Wds., 8. Breade, to make broad, to spread.
2. trans. To spread out, spread about, extend.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 813. For vus he lette hym … brede vpon a bostwys bem.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 534. As onde wiþ host in brest is bred [Cott. spred].
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 101. Let brede hem, lest thai hete and be the wers.
a. 1600[?]. Scot. Field, 24, in Furniv., Percy Folio, I. 213. On this side Bosworthe in a bancke thei bred forth their standards.
1802. J. Wilson (Congleton), MS. Let. to J. Boucher. Bread or brede Manure, i. e. to fling it about and spread it on the Land, is a very common Expression here; and also the Participle, as, They have brad it.
3. intr. To spread, extend.
c. 1320. K. Alis., 3252. Thorugh the heorte brede the steil.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1928. He were a bleaunt of blwe, þat bradde to þe erþe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8794. The bavme … bret thurgh the bones … euer folowand the fell.
1600. Dymmok, Ireland (1843), 16. Thence yt [East Meath] breadeth to the Kinges county and the countie of Kildare.
4. trans. To overspread, cover; spread (a table).
c. 1205. Lay., 18523. Bordes heo brædden. al þat folc æt & dronc.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1693. His berde I-brad alle his breste to þe bare vrþe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 383. Burdes were bred in the brade halle. Ibid., 1172. Þan rises þe sun, bredis with his beames all þe brode vales.
