v. Obs. [OE. fortredan, f. FOR- pref.1 + tredan to TREAD.] trans. To tread down, tread under foot; to destroy by trampling.

1

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 90. Weȝferende hit [ðæt sæd] fortrædon.

2

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 155. Sum of þe sed … fel bi þe wei, and was fortreden.

3

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 116. In helle schulle þay be al fortrode of deueles.

4

c. 1450.  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), II. 143.

        Eatinge over all that he coulde fonge,
The remnante he fore-treade.

5

  fig.  c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. pr. i. 85. It [vertue] is cast vndyr and fortroden vndyr the feet of felonos foolk.

6