Middle English Dictionary Entry
brēde n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | brēde n.(2) Also bræde, breade, breide. |
| Etymology | OE brǣd(u |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brod adj.
1a.
(a) The shorter of two dimensions of a surface, area, or object; width, breadth; a (in, o, of, on) brede, in width; (b) in (after the) ~, at an angle to the length (of an object), crosswise, across; on ~, abreast; (c) contextually, with regard to a three-dimensional object: thickness, depth.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21995 : An lutel wiht mære..is end-longe feouwer & sixti munden, he is imeten a bræde [Otho: in brede] fif & twenti foten.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1557 : His armes, long were þai, His scholders large on brede.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)7163 : As a somer it [a dragon] is brested bifore in þe brede [Cai: on brede].
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4305 : Four myle in lengþe spredreþ is host, And thre on brede.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Zech.5.2 : The lengthe therof of twenti cubitis, the breed [L latitudo] therof of ten cubitis.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2916 : Twenty fadme of brede.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)191a/a : Siria..is more narowe and streyte in breede.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329a/a : Euerych body haþ þese þre dymmensiouns: lengþe, brede, and þikkenesse.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)316 : Þre hundred of cupydez þou holde to þe lenþe, Of fyfty fayre overþwert forme þe brede.
- (1419) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8513 : That John of Langton hafe..als mykyll ground in breide als he hafes in the frount before at his tenement.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5898 : Bodily strenthe, And semely shappe of brede and lenthe.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20563 : Twontie fote of brede..Mesur of lengh it hafes þe same.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)23/16 : Men may noȝt inhabit it [Egypt] on brede for desertes..and þerfore it es inhabit on length.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)57/19 : It es nere a hundreth furlanges lang and fourty on brede.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)453 : A whyte book..þe lenght of a xvj ynch and þe breede of a viij ynch.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)69/4 : Þe brede of this ryuer was foure furlange lenth.
- (1447-8) Shillingford102 : Postren dores..the brede of a kernell of the saide towne wall.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.19.14 : The latitudes of planetes be comounly rekened fro the ecliptyk, by cause that noon of hem declyneth but fewe degrees out fro the brede of the zodiak.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4621 : He metede þe lengthe of þat space & þe brede þerof.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3833 : Foure forlange, I finde, þe flode was o brede.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)46/22 : A superficialle thynge hathe 2 dimensions, þat is to sey lengthe and brede.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17786 : Chapmen..made of woode sale..By A mesour off lengthe and brede.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)10/8 : Ther is also a welle..hit hathe but xx foot in lengthe & xx of brede.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2075 : v thowsand knyghtes..ffull begely shapen bothe in lengeth And brede.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)63b/b : In the myddel of þe herte of a beest is a grustil bone J set in þe brede þerof.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2177 : In þe vesage als, on brede, Was wreten þus..'Whoso smytes me [etc.].'
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)6/177 : When he [Jesus] was bunden so on brede, Þai lete him hang, and home þai ȝede.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)65b/b : If a nerue be disrupte i. brosten in brede þan is necessarie for to sewe it.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)66b/a : The kyttinge in brede i. ouerþwart of an arterie is titter sowded þan openyng after the lengþe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)68b/a : The kyttynge of a synowe after þe brede [L secundum latitudinem].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)51 : To sprede hym in brede so largeli as he dooþ in lengþe.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4011 : Seuene men myȝten gon in on brede.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)40/21 : Þo woundes þat beþ y-mad in lengthe of þe synwe beþ lasse perylous, & þo þat beþ in brede of þe synwe beþ more perilous.
c
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80ra : The walles therof were of hyght lxx cubites and of brede [L (Vulg.Judith 1.2): latitudine] xxx cubitis.
1b.
The diameter (of a circle or a round object).
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.45 : Tholomeus seiþ þat þe roundenesse of a cercle aboute conteyneþ þre so moche as þe brede so þat þe proporcioun of þe roundenesse aboute of a cercle is to þe brede as is þe proporcioun of two and twenty to seuene.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)70 : Þan mesure þe diameter of þe pit or welle, þat es to say þe mouthes brede.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5433 : Þai [serpents] ware thike..thre foote o brede.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)54/21 : Clense [the salve] þorw a clout in-to a vessel of þat brede þat þou wilt haue þy cake.
2.
(a) A unit of linear measurement (equal to the width or thickness of something specified); the ~ of her, her ~, the thickness of a hair, a hair's breadth; hand(e ~, the breadth of a hand, four inches; finger ~, the thickness of a finger; etc.; (b) a specified or standard width (of a fabric).
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7229 : Þre [read: þe] brede of þre londes.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7246 : Þre londes brede.
- c1390 RSicily (Vrn)172 : He heet a barbur..Þat..he schulde be schore..An honde-brede boue eiþer ere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3811 : Of gooth the skyn an hand brede aboute.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)332a/a : And deled..þilke actus and perches in pace, cubites, & feete, spannes, and hande bredes..Vncia conteyneþ þre ynche in mesure, and þe hand brede foure ynches.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)303/10 : Þou muste binde his arme þe brede of foure fyngris aboue þe place.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)25 : The treessez..hafez lefes of a fute brede and a halfe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)18a/b : At þre fynger brede nygh þe wombe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)19a/a : It is schorte of a good hond brede.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)57b/a : A grete pece of lynnen cloþ of þre spanne lengþe and of þe brede of two spanne.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.21 : Him lakket no more to be slayne, Butte the brede of hore.
- c1450 Falm.Squire (Cmb Ff.2.38)p.103 : Oon heerebrede owt of thys peyne They have no power to lyste mee.
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)114/1446 : Þe stroke..partyd hys chekys an hond brede.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)604 : A-bove this marasse was a chauchie..of the breede of a spere lengthe..and..of lengthe a stones caste.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)45 : Þe brede off a acre off londe is xlvj [read: lxvj] fote.
b
- (1402) Let.Zouche in RES 8 (PRO E 101/512/10)261 : Sende me ij ȝerd of þe brede þat ys marked here.
- (1433) RParl.4.452a : The lengthes and bredes of Streytes above writen.
- (1461-83) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.IV in Hill Hist.Eng.Dress1.156 : Fourteen pair of shets, everiche of three breds.
- (1487) Will Uvedale in SAC 3165 : I bequeathe to Elizabeth my daughter..iii pair of my good shetis, every shete of iii bredis.
3.
(a) Areal extent, expanse; area; space; in place names: a broad strip of land [see Smith PNElem. 1.46]; (b) broadness, extensiveness.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.8.8 : Ther shal be the spredyng out of his wenges, fulfillende the breede of thi lond.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)158b/b : Pelagus is þe brede of þe see with oute clyf and with oute haven.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)353 : Niniue..watz a cete ful syde & selly of brede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.179 : She stood ful lowe and stille allone, Byhynden other folk, in litel brede.
- a1425 Templ.Dom.(Add 32578)25 : Gods temple is large of brede ffor many folke entre in þat place.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)16799 : Hit was wondyr to telle þe spas, what breede they [soldiers] ocupied & what lengthe.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)593 : I schal þee foster & fede..þou schalt haue byggyngys be bankis brede.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)18/14 : Aboue hit [the hill] is nomore of brede þan a litel chapel is made þer-vppon.
- c1450-a1525 Falm.Squire (Leonard)147 : The aungell began þe chylde to lede..In-to a foreste was feyre in brede [Ashm: longe in brede].
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1502 : He must ryde & reyne ouer all þe brede of þe werlde.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)278a/a : Gentylnesse and nobilite of houndes..is y knowe by lengþe of face and of þe snowte and by brede of þe breste.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)825 : Crisp was his heer..His shuldris of a large brede, And smalish in the girdilstede.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)23a/b : Þerto helpeþ..þe latitude or brede of þe waiez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)29b/b : Formica is a..puscle or pusclez yuel colric without latitude i. breede.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)956 : Of good brede Hyr hippes were, a streight flat bak.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4964 : Ymyddes the halle Was a tre..The brede of his bowes borly to se.
4.
The (full) extent (of one's desires); extensiveness (of benevolence), benevolence, generosity; in ~, generously; fullness (of elation); gostli ~, elation, exaltation of the spirit.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)26b : Schalt tu folhin geat o feld, þet beoð flesches lustes? Feld is willes breade.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)105 : Þet uerste word ous sseweþ þe langnesse of his eurebleuinge; þet oþer, þe brede of his charite.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)70 : The welle of mercy renneth al in brede.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)75/18 : Þe euerlastyngnes of God is his lengþe; his loue is his breed.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.355 : Goddis brede is myche shewid by brede of God in creaturis.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)4.1 : Thou made brade til me my hert..thou hast broght me in til brede of gastly ioy..this brede of hert, charite, makis and puttis away straitnes.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.22 : He out led me in breed [L in latitudinem]..When we suffire fleysly straytnes, he ledis vs in gastly breed, til brennynge and ioy of his luf.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)117.5 : I incald the lord and lord herd me in brede..he sett me in brede of charite and medis in heuen thorgh hope.
5a.
on ~, far and wide; sen on ~, see a (certain) distance; spreden on ~, spread out or about; lien on ~, lie scattered about, sprawl; beren on ~, send (sb.) sprawling; walken on ~, wander afar; etc.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)66 : A wonden wrethe þat his heuid hid spred he all furth on brede.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)59/209 : When þai saw þe fyr on brede, In þaire hertis þan had þai drede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.530 : For, be myn hidde sorwe iblowe on brede, I shal byjaped ben.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2474 : Men that wer slayn lay so thikke on breede, That of the erthe no man hadde a siht.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)797 : The knyghte lygges þer on brede.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1630 : Browke wele þe londe on brede.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1659 : Perceuell bere hym fro his stede Two londis one brede.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)956 : Now buske ȝou forþe on brede!
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1177 : Be bankis on brede oþerwhyle to spew þee spede!
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2065 : He myght see then [read: ten] myle on breede..Corne and grene meede.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)10/35 : Treys..with braunchis and with bowis on-brede.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)292/9 : Þus schall I [Herod] brittyn all youre bones on brede, And lusshe all youre lymmys.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4462 : The ffyrste hoost Sere Arcade ledde, Al aboute on brede þey spredde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3022 : The here of hir hede..Bost out vppon brede, bright on to loke.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)33 : The floures..gunne for to sprede And for to splay out her leves on brede.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)2/20 : At the begynnyng of oure dede make we heuen & erth, on brede, and lyghtys fayre to se.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)905 : [Antichrist] xall not walk in brede, but in þe same place þere þat cryste hym-self walkyd.
5b.
in (on) lengthe and brede: (a) in all parts (of an area or object); far and wide, everywhere, all over; (b) in all directions; (c) to the full extent, fully; in every respect.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)80 : Ne be he ner so stout, ȝet he biþ ysoht out o brede ant o leynþe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1970 : Al peynted was the wal in lengthe and brede.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.64 : Wiþ þe Erldam of Envye..Wiþ alle þe lordschupe, of lengþe and of brede [B: in lenthe and in brede].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.196 : He hedde beo lord of þat lond, in lenkþe and in brede [B: a lengthe and a brede].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1014 : I-reised was..Of pured metal and of stonys clere, In brede & lengthe, a ful rich auter.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Corp.Chr.(Trin-C R.3.20)102 : Þe brede made him so stable..Al his vyage, booþe in brede and lenkeþe.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4200 : Anon it [a ditch] was..maad al playn, In lengþe and brede.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.1179 : Youre londes þat lyn soo fer in brede and lengthe.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)45/32 : Carite sprat his bowes on bræde and on lengðe swiðe ferr.
- a1350 SLeg.Juliana (Ashm 43)174 : Þat fur bigan to sprede..it hupte aboute in lengþe and in brede.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4699 : Charite, both in length and brede, Of newe shal her bryghte beemys sprede.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.2.89a : The ciete is so large þat it is endelees bothe in lengthe and in brede.
c
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)174 : Ich habbe, on brede and eck on lengþe, Castel god on mine rise.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7584 : Thei hadde it [the town] wonne in brede and lengthe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)502 : Preier, in his largest lengþe and brede..passiþ preising.
- a1450(1400) Eche man be war (Dgb 102)102 : Be suget to resoun in lengthe and brede, ffor god seeth thurgh eche mysse.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1166 : So god þe spede..Thou hast y-slaw, in length and Brede, an C knyȝtes.
5c.
in brede ne lengthe, not in any way.
Associated quotations
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.916 : Euere they putten him of with gret strengthe, That Entren he ne Myhte In brede ne lengthe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)27.227 : The Ademaunt hath no More strengthe Aȝens the Eyr, In brede ne lengthe, Thanne A lytel praty fownteyne Aȝens Al the grete See.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1289) in Salzman Building in Engl.509 : The brest pece shall be ij fote square, the pece under hym xvj enches of breed and xiiij enches thikke.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2898 : Ȝit has þe floum, as I fynd, a forelange obrede [vr. of brede].
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1519 : Vch centyner take vp the werk footmel..caste vp the dich, And .IX. foote obrede wil do wel.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)56/29 : Þer gone oþer two [muscles] o-brede þat ben cleped latitudinales [Ch.(2) latitudynalles i. brode synowes] fro þe backe vppon þe wombe kittynge hem to gidere.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)117b/a : Woundes of þe þrote, wheþer þat þei be kitte o lengþe oþer o brede, þei ben to drede.
Note: Additional quots. for sense 1a.(a).
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11877 : Þan the warpit downe the walle, & the wale toure, Bothe obreade & aboue brekyn the yates, Tyll hit [Trojan Horse] might entur at ease.
Note: New phrase for sense 1a.(b).
Note: Gloss: o ~, on each side.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)172b/b : Summe oþer medicines..open and spreden o brede þe orifice of þe veynes.
Note: New phrase for sense 5a.
Note: Gloss: spreden o ~, to spread (sth.) apart, widen (sth.).
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)185a/a : Take..of suger Candy tuthye preparate halfe ane ounce, pouder hem and paste hem wiþ water of rosen, and sperpel hem o brede in a basine.
Note: New phrase for sense 5a.
Note: Gloss: sparplen o ~, to scatter or disperse (sth. into sth. else) in small amounts, sprinkle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)160a/a : Þis oynement..leide aboute woundes preserueþ hem fro hote enpostumme and letteþ goynge o brede of corupcioun.
Note: New phrase for sense 5a.
Note: Gloss: goinge o ~, of infection: increasing or spreading to a greater degree.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.49va (2.6) : Þe dyametre of erþe, i. þe brede ouerthwert..is 11 hundred thousand mile.
Note: ?New phrase. Editor's gloss: brede, n. 'distance; ~ ouerthwert distance across, diameter (of a sphere)'.