Obs. exc. in rare arch. or dial. use. [OE. to-, ME. to- (te-) OFris. ti-, te- (to-), OS. ti- (te-), OHG. zi-, za-, ze- and zir-, zar- (MHG. ze-, zer-, zir-, Ger. zer-):—WGer. *ti-:—OTeut. *tiz- = L. dis-, a particle expressing separation, ‘asunder, apart, in pieces.’
The WGer. ti- (= L. dis-) in prehistoric times ran together in form with ti the unstressed prepositional form of tó (see TO prep.), with which it had no etymological connection (being indeed almost opposite in sense); and when the latter was leveled in vowel with its stressed adverbial form tó, ti- (= dis-) also followed it, and appears constantly in OE. as to-. In most grammars and dictionaries this is written tó-, like the stressed form of TO adv. and prep. But as it was the unstressed form with which the prefix was formally confounded, and as it was itself always stressless (being sometimes written te as in OS. and OFris.), it seems more in accordance with the facts to spell it in OE. to- with short o, which is therefore done here.
In OE., about 125 compound verbs in to- are recorded; many of these did not survive in ME., where however so many new compounds appear (some formed even on vbs. from French) that their number in Early ME. was not less than in OE. In the 15th c. they rapidly disappeared and only a few are found after 1500. Many of the verbs that took the prefix to- had themselves the sense of separation or division; such were break, burst, deal, melt, scatter, strew, tear, etc.; in these to- added little but force to the notion: cf. burst, burst asunder, tear, tear asunder, etc. This led to the prefixing of to- to verbs that had no sense of partition, merely as a strengthening or emphasizing particle, as in darken, to-darken, swink, to-swink, etc. From an early time to-verbs were often strengthened by the qualifying adv. all (ALL C) in sense ‘wholly, completely, altogether’; in later times this became universal. Consequently, the prefix began to be viewed as all-to- or allto-; and (verbal prefixes being very commonly written separate from the vb.) all to or all-to began to be treated as itself an adverb with the sense ‘altogether, completely’: see ALL C. 14, 15. Thus in the Bible of 1611, Judges ix. 53 ‘and all to brake his scull’ was etymologically and historically all to-brake, i.e., ‘all to-pieces-broke,’ but may have been understood as all-to brake, i.e., ‘altogether’ or ‘completely broke’; Fairfax in 1674, by all-to-be-deckt can only have meant all-to bedeckt, ‘completely bedecked.’]
1. With separative force: Asunder, apart, to or in pieces; also, away, about, abroad, here and there. Combined with verbs and derived adjs. and sbs. The more important of these appear in their places as main words: the following are obsolete words of single or rare occurrence. (All vbs. trans. unless otherwise stated.)
† To-bray v., to bray or beat to atoms; † to-bust v. [BUST v.1], to beat or thrash to pieces; † to-crack v., to crack to pieces, shatter; † to-dight v., to put apart, separate; hence † to-dighting vbl. sb.; † to-flap v., to knock to pieces; † to-gnide v. [GNIDE v.], to crush to fragments; † to-hale v., to haul or drag asunder; to pull about; to distend; † to-heave v., to ‘lift up’ (one’s eyes), to open; † to-hene v. [HENE v.], to mutilate by stoning; † to-hurt v., to dash or knock asunder; † to leave v., to relinquish, to abandon; † to-lithe v. [LITHE v.2], to dismember; † to-liver v., = DELIVER v.; † to-melt v. intr., to melt away, dissolve; † to-part v. intr., = DEPART v.; † to-set v., to distribute, divide, arrange; † to-shider v. [cf. SHIDE sb.] intr., to break in pieces, to be shivered; † to-shred v., to cut to shreds; † to-skair v. [SKAIR v.2], to scatter, disperse; † to-skill v., to divide, distinguish; † to-slent v.1 [SLENT v.1] intr., to slip away; † to-slent v.2 [SLENT v.3] intr., to split, burst; † to-slive v. [SLIVE v.1], to cleave; † to-sned v. [SNED v.], to cut to pieces; † to-sparple v., to scatter abroad; = DISPARPLE; † to-swinge v., to disperse by beating; to beat to pieces; † to-thrust v., to thrust apart, to push open; † to-torve v., to hurl about; to dash to pieces; † to-tose v. [TOZE], to tear to pieces; † to-twin v., to separate, divide; to-waver v. intr., to waver uncertainly; to wander; † to-wawe v. [OE. waʓian] intr., to move about; † to-wowe v. [OE. wáwan], to scatter by blowing; † to-writhe v., (a) trans. to twist or wrench apart; (b) intr., to twist or writhe about; † to-wry v., to turn, twist about.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 7. The mawmete wodus and grauen thingus he hadde *to-brayȝide in to gobetis.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1610 (Cott.). An euer euch man is wið me wroð … An me *tobusteþ & tobeleþ.
13[?]. Sir Beues, 4313 + 180 (MS. E.). Þere men myȝte seen schafftys schake And mennys crownys al *tocrake.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xiv. 196. Helmes and hawberkis to-kraked he then.
1340. Ayenb., 72. Þanne þridde dyeaþ þet is þe *todiȝtinge of þe zaule and of þe bodie.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xxii. 43. As cleye of streetis I sal breek hem, and *to-flappe [confringam].
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter ci. 11 [cii. 10]. For vp-heueand *to-gnodded þou me [v.r. for þou to-gnod me vpheuand: Vulg. elisisti; Wyclif hurtledest me (down)].
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 327. So was he al day to drawe and *to haled, i-scorned, and i-buffetted [tractus et illusus colaphizatur]. Ibid. (1398), Barth. De P. R., XIX. liv. (Bodl. MS.). Raw hony not wele clarified … streccheþ and to haleþ the bodie.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 201. Man þe nappeð [h]wile *to-heueð his eȝen, and þenne seð.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1119. Stones hi doþ in heore slytte [= pocket] & þe tolorueþ & *toheneþ.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 426. Sum nouhtunge hwar þuruh heo *to-hurteð [v.r. to hurren] eiðer urommard oðer.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), V. 69. The cardinalles supposede that he hade … *to-lefte þis benefice for the luffe of theyme.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 272. Þa *toliðode se engel þæt cild on ðam disce.
c. 1205. Lay., 4216. Stater heo nom & al hene to-liðeden [c. 1275 to-limekede] Ibid., 25929. Nu hafeð be … Mine leomen al to-leðed [c. 1275 a-liþede].
13[?]. Metr. Treat. on Dreams, in Rel. Ant., I. 266. Or sunne ant peril *to-lyvred he byth.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 1976. Ham to-lywryd a man anon, And thider fast thay gone gone.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in Lambeth Hom., 269. Hwat herte is swa hard þat ne mei *to-melte i þe munegunge of þe?
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 249 (298). His olde wo … Gan tho for loye wasten and to-melte.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 702, in O. E. Misc., 57. Hwanne hi schullen *to-party vt of lyue þisse.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 265. Forto know rediliche þe meres and þe merkes of þe contrayes where þese men were *to set, loke in the firste book. Ibid., VII. 307. Everiche celle is departed in foure, and to sette wiþ ynne for þe oratorie, þe dortour, þe fraytour, and þe werkhous.
c. 1450. Guy Warw. (C.) 1468. Faste þey smote þen togedur That þer sperys can *toschyder.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1751. The helmes they tohewen and *toshrede.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1498. Till rihhte læfe turrnesst Þatt flocc þatt was *toskeȝȝredd ær. Ibid., 9462. Þatt Judisskenn follc Þa shollde beon toskeȝȝredd … Forr heore depe sinne. Ibid., 18652. Illc an had iss oþerr fra *Toskiledd & todæledd.
14[?]. Sir Beues, 2539 (MS. M.). Ascopard … Smot Beues a strok gret, That his own fote *toslynt And he fel wiþ is owene dentte.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 4940. Þe ymage of Mahoun … Wiþ þe axe smot he oppon þe molde, Þat al þat heued *to-slente [pr. to-flente].
c. 1050. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 406/29. Findit, *toslaf, tocleaf.
c. 1314. Reinbrun, cv., in Guy Warw. (E.E.T.S.), 666. Helm and scheld,… Þai gonne hem al to-schliue.
c. 1205. Lay., 4015. Þe uniselie moder mid sexe hine *to-snæde. Ibid., 16148. Hengest … hafde … mid sæxen to-snædðe snelle þe þeines.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 287. Hengistus … brouȝte to gydres his knyȝtes and men of arms þat were *to sparpled and to schad [L. dispersis].
c. 1205. Lay., 1533. Þer wes moni steap mon Mid stele *to-sw[u]ngen.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 131. He *to-þruste þa stelene gate … of helle.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xiv. 24. Witodlice wæs ꝥ scyp of þam yþum *totorfod, for-þam þe hyt wæs strang wind.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 9. Ac me þe sculde nimen and al to-teon mid horse oðer þe al to-toruion mid stane.
a. 1225. [see tohene].
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 70. Þe sulue mose … wolde þe *totose.
c. 1200. Ormin, 19060. & tiss lif unnderr Crisstenndom *Totwinneþþ & toshædeþþ All Cristess follc fra defless follc.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 254. Euerichon to dealed [Corpus to twuned] from oðer.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 302. For thai trow we so scalit ar, And fled *to-vauerand her and thar.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 19. Þe child … spakly speke it couþe tho & spedeliche *towawe.
13[?]. in Anglia, III. 279/89. Þe wind hem wolde *towowen.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxvi. (Z.), 155. Torqueo, ic wriðe,… distorqueo, ic *towriðe.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 3179. So wo was ysoude,… Þat alle sche wald to wriþe.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3920. He al to-wrythes for woo.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., clxiv. So tolter quhilum did sche [Fortune] It *to-wrye.
2. Used as a mere intensive: Completely, entirely, soundly, greatly, severely, etc.
(A few of these show traces of the separative sense.)
All vbs. trans., unless otherwise stated.
† To-bent pa. pple., quite bent, bent low; † to-bite v., to bite severely; † to-blast v., to blast utterly; † to-brain v., to brain completely; † to-clout v., to cover with clouts; † to-darken v., to darken greatly (rendering L. contenebrare); † to-deraign (-dreyn) v. [DERAIGN v.1], to maintain, vindicate (a cause, etc.) entirely; † to-drunk pa. pple., thoroughly inebriated; † to-dun v. [DUN v.2], to strike with resounding blows; † to-establish v., to establish perfectly or entirely; † to-harrow (-harwe) v., to harrow completely; † to-minish v., to make small, break up (rendering L. comminuere); † to-pierce (-perse) v., to pierce entirely; † to-punish v., to punish soundly; † to-push v., to push about, to hustle; † to-ray v. [RAY v.2 5], to besmear; † to-rot v. intr., to rot utterly (rendering L. computrescere); † to-schrape v. [SHRAPE], to scrape entirely; † to-shell v., to peel entirely, to make bare of skin; † to-smite v., to smite violently (in quot. absol.); † to-spill v., to confound, ruin utterly; † to-spreng v., to besprinkle completely; † to stick v., to prick all over; † to-sting v., to sting severely; † to-stink v. intr., to stink greatly; † to-stir v., to move violently; † to-stony v., to astound; † to-swelt v. intr., to perish, die; † to-swink v. intr., to toil hard; † to-tar v., (-ter(re) [TAR, TARRE v.2], to provoke greatly; † to-teen v. [TEEN v.1], to injure or annoy greatly: see quot. s.v. to-tray; † to-threat v., to threaten violently; † to-tray v., to torment exceedingly; † to-trouble v., to trouble greatly, to afflict severely; † to turn v., to overthrow, upset, subvert; † to-walt v. intr., to overflow; † to-waste v., to waste greatly.
c. 1401. Lydg., Flour of Curtesye, 260. Over this, myn hertes lust *to-bente.
1375. Creation, 640, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 132. An addre … al *to-bot Seth in þe face.
1382. Wyclif, Job, Prol. 2. The boc shortid, and to-torn and to-bite.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8866. Þe syȝte of here myn herte *to-blaste. Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. Wace (Rolls), 9293. Þe sight of hure hym al to-blast.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xliii. 164. He … *to brayned ther many one.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xxii. (1869), 148. That is thilke that hath thus to ragged me and *to clowted me as thou seest.
1382. Wyclif, Lam. v. 17. Therfore dreri mad is oure herte, therfore *to-dercned ben oure eȝen.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 974. For I chulle an ende ouercome þt fiht, And *to-dreynen al þi riht.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. xlvi. 10. Deuouren shal the swerd,… and be *to-drunke with the blod of hem.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in Cott. Hom., 281. Siðen ȝette buffetet and *to dunet i þe heaued wið þe red ȝerde.
a. 1562. Cavendish, Poems, etc. (1825), II. 158. Your pryncely powers and hault dygnyties Assured me with suche perfection, *To-establyshed me in the hyest degrees.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXII. 268 (MS. T.). Al þis hus oxen ereden thei *to harwen [v.r. to-harewide] after.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxviii. 28. Bred forsothe shal be to-mynusht [1388 maad lesse].
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 662. The trensand blaid *to persyt euirydeill Throu plaitt and stuff.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4330. *To-ponyscht be-fore Fynd we na faute in na freke þat vs emange duellis.
13[?]. Lament. St. Bernard, 198, in Minor Poems Vernon MS., 306. Þe Iewes of harm hedde non ende, Mi sone to-beten and *to-pust.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 46 b. Putting Toe … peeses of linnen cloth all *to-rayed therewith.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. xlvi. 15. Why *to-rotide [v.r. to-stank] thi stronge?
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1185. He … schrenchte þen alde deouel, & *teschrapet his heaued.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 191. Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were *to-shullen.
14[?]. Beryn, 1456. Yeur wyff woll sikirliche … hir tuskis sharpe whet, And *to smyte with hir tunge.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xliii. 9 [xliv. 7]. Þou *tospilte vs hatand.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. vi. 26. Be thou gird with an heire, and *to-sprengd with asken.
c. 1315. Shoreham, ii. 75. Hy *to-stek hys swete hefed Wyþ one þornene coroune.
a. 1300[?]. XI Pains Hell, 177, in O. E. Misc., 152. Olde men … neddren … Heom heo *to-styngeþ vychon.
1382. *To-stank [see to-rot].
1382. Wyclif, Isa. xxiv. 20. With to-stering shal be *to-stired the erthe.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVIII. 547. His frendis … He couth ressawe,… And his fais stoutly *to-stonay.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1436. Alle to-stonayede with þe strokes of þa steryne knyghtez.
c. 1205. Lay., 26810. Halmes to-hælden Hahȝe men *to-swelten.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 191. In Erthe, in Eir, in Water man *to swynke.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. xii. 14. These that weren with ynne, diden slowlicher, *to terynge [1388 to-terrynge] Judas with cursyngis.
1377. Pol. Poems (Rolls), I. 218. The Frensche men … with heore scornes us *to-threte.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 303, in O. E. Misc., 120. Ac heo hine schal steorne *To-trayen and to-teone.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxv. 22. The strengeste shal not han in hem pacience, that he *to-truble the rigge of hem. Ibid., Isa. xxviii. 17. The hail shal *to-turne vpsodoun the hope of lesyng.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 704. All to-turnit thair entyre, traistly and tewch.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 428. *To-walten alle þyse welle-hedez & þe water flowed.
1382. Wyclif, Jer., xiv. 15. In swerd and hunger shul be *to-wastid tho profetus.
3. Hence all to-, all to, all-to, † alto, employed in middle and early modern Eng. as an intensive to any verb: see ALL C. 14, 15.
