v. Obs. [OE. todǽlan, f. TO-2 + dǽlan to DEAL; = OS. te-dêlian, OHG. zi-, zateiljan, Ger. zerteilen.]
1. trans. To divide (into parts); to distribute, deal out; also, to separate, sever.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 4. Þone anne noman þu todældest on feower ʓesceafta. Ibid. (c. 893), Oros., I. i. § 1. Ure ieldran ealne þisne ymbhwyrft þises middanʓeardes … on þreo todældon.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 194. Astrece ðine hand ofer ða sæ, and todæl hi.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1137. Ac he to-deld it & scatered sotlice.
c. 1200. Ormin, 9468. Forrþi wass þeȝȝre kinedom Todæledd & tobrittnedd … O fowwre feorþenn daless.
c. 1205. Lay., 2994. Ich wille mi dirhliche lod a þroe al to-dalen [c. 1275 a þreo al to-deale].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., Pref. 23. This an Boc is todealet in eahte lesse Boke.
1340. Ayenb., 164. Þe filozofes … to-delden þise uirtues ine zix deles.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 135. Þe hil mons Olympus … to deleþ tweie londes.
2. intr. To divide, separate, part.
a. 900. O. E. Chron., an. 885. Her to dælde se fore-sprecena here on tu, oþer dæl east, oþer dæl to Hrofes ceastre.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., xxx. (Napier), 149. Swa todæleð se lichoma and seo sawul.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 131. Swa sone swa heore saulen and heore licoma to-delden heo ferden to helle.
c. 1205. Lay., 30833. Sone heo gunen to-delen.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 480, in O. E. Misc., 50. Þat huding-cloþ to-delde in þe temple a to.
3. trans. To decide (a contest). rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 9519. He scal … mit fehten hit to-dælen [c. 1275 to-deale]. Ibid., 22799. We þis comp scullen to-delen wið þas uncuðe kempen.
