Forms: Inf. α. 3 spræde, 3–6 (9 dial.) sprede (3–4 -en, 5 -yn); 5 spreede, 7, 9 dial. spreed; 5 spreyde, 6 Sc., 9 dial. spreid; 6 spreade, 6– spread (9 dial. spreead). β. 4 spredd, 4, 6 spredde (6 arch. -en), 4, 6–7 spred. γ. 4 sprad, 6 Sc. spraid, 9 dial. sprade. 3rd sing. pres. 2–4 spret (2, 4 sprat). Pa. t. α. 3–5 spradde, 4–5 (9 dial.) sprad; 4, 6 (9 dial.) sprade. β. 3–6 spredde, 4 spredd, 4–7 (9 dial.) spred, 7– spread. y. 7 spreded, 9 dial. spreeded, Sc. spreidit. Pa. pple. α. 2–4 i-sprad, 3–4 y-sprad (4 -spradde), 6 i-sprode; 3–6 (9 dial. and arch.) sprad (5 spradde). β. 2–4 i-spred (4 hi-), 4 y-spred, 5 e-spred; 3–4 spredd, 3–7 (9 dial.) spred (4 sprid), 4–7 spredde; 5 Sc. spreid, 6 (9 dial.) spreed, 7 sprede; 6 spreade (Sc. spreid), 7– spread. γ. 5 spraden, 9 spreaden, spredden (dial. spreeden, etc.). δ. 6 spredded, 8 spreaded. [OE. sprǽdan (in combs., esp. tó-sprǽdan, and sprǽdung), = OFris. *sprêda (WFris. spriede, NFris. spriad, spreer), MDu. spre(e)den (WFlem. spreeden, spreen), spreiden, (Du. spreiden, spreien), MLG. and LG. sprêden, spreiden (LG. also spreen, spreien), OHG. spreitan (MHG. and G. spreiten, G. dial. sprêten); not native in Scand., Da. sprede († spree) and Sw. sprida (MSw. spridha, spredha) being from LG. The ultimate etymology is uncertain.]
I. trans. 1. To stretch or draw out (a cloth, etc.) so as to display more or less fully; to open out or lay out so as to cover or occupy some space.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1015. Witt tu þatt an waȝherifft Wass spredd fra wah to waʓhe.
c. 1205. Lay., 1215. Seoððen he nam þe hude … of þare hinde, bi-foren þan wefede he heo spadde.
c. 1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 117. Almerle his banere sprad, & oþer barons mo.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 61. But þe Romayns wyfes … wente wiþ hir heer i-sprad.
c. 1400. St. Alexius (Trin. Coll. Oxf. 57), 460. Þat writ anon he gan sprede, And by-fore hem alle rede.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 115. Wherfor mony … spradden cloþys in þe way.
1533. Wriothesley, Chron. (Camden), I. 21. Their was a raye cloath, blew, spreed from the highe desses of the Kinges Benche unto the high alter of Westminster.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, I. 74. The golden Sunne, where ere he driue His glittring Chariot, findes our Ensignes spred.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 227. These two did spread a Turkie carpet on the rocke, and on that a table-cloth.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 97. To have … Nets spread between stakes driven into the Sea.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 361. Spiders in the Vault their snary Webs have spred.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 111. Lay, chamber, and spread their Roots, so that the Fibres might not touch one another.
1823. F. Clissold, Ascent Mt. Blanc, 22. A soft breath of wind spread its folds, and floated it gently in the air.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxvi. The Major … sent the Native—who always rested on a mattress spread upon the ground…—to light him to his room.
1902. R. Bagot, Donna Diana, xvii. 335. He spread the newspaper on the table before him.
transf. and fig. 1370–80. Visions St. Paul, 242, in O. E. Misc. His owne cha[r]tre haþ he rad, Þat his synnes were inne isprad.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., V. 1824. Spreede me in thi mercy, lete me neuere falle In to myn enemyes handes.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 275 b. Holy charite … dilateth & spredeth the herte of man or woman.
1638. Penit. Conf., vii. (1657), 128. All sins are not so necessarily to be spread before the Priest.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1147. Invocate his aid…, spread before him How highly it concerns his glory now To [etc.].
1715. Pope, Iliad, I. 65. A sudden night he spread, And gloomy darkness roll’d around his head.
1780. Mirror, No. 101. The toils which her own imagination, and the art of Marlow, had spread for her.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), V. 123. It is not for the purpose of advocating, but of reprobating exclusion of testimony, that these remarkable cases are spread upon the carpet.
1873. H. C. Banister, Music, 17. The notes … are to be played … in Arpeggio,… or spread obliquely, as it is termed.
b. spec. To expand, unfurl or set (sails).
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2828. Hor seiles hii spredeþ in þe so & hider hii comeþ iwis.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 111. They shall spread their sailes to go towards those parts that the King intendeth.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xxviii. The whole Fleete hauing wayed, did then begin to cut and spread their sayles.
1611. Bible, Isaiah, xxxiii. 23. They could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the saile.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VI. 418. He spreads his canvas; with his pole he steers.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. betw. Charles & Clenard, 353. A large Ship going out of Port, Charles, with her Sails all spread.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 5. Man, on the dubious waves of error toss’d,… Spreads all his canvass.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxv. Not a French banner has been borne down, not a sail spread from England.
c. Const. on, over, under, upon.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Kings viii. 15. He toke an couerlyte,… and spradde vpon his face.
1535. Coverdale, Numb. iv. 13. They shal … sprede a clothe of scarlet ouer it. Ibid., 14. They shal sprede a couerynge of doo skynnes theron.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 94. Thair heid thay laid vpon … a groffe seck spred vndir thame.
1611. Bible, Job xxvi. 9. Hee … spreadeth his cloud vpon it. Ibid., Isaiah xxv. 7. He wil destroy … the vaile that is spread ouer all nations.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., II. iv. 102. What!… on foul couches Tyrian carpets spread?
1761. Gray, Fatal Sisters, 31. Gondula, and Geira, spread O’er the youthful king your shield.
1820. Scott, Monast., x. I should have spread my mantle over the frailties of my spiritual father.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 399. Each membrane represents a bag or sac, without any opening, spread upon the organs.
d. To display in wide extension.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, VI. xxii. A goodly plaine displayed wide and broad, Betweene the citie and the campe was sprad.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 411. Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around. Ibid. (1766), Vicar, viii. Where wilds, immeasurably spread, Seem lengthening as I go.
1807. J. Barlow, Columb., I. 220. He saw, thro’ central zones, the winding shore Spread the deep Gulph.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, xxxiv. IV. 345. The Euxine spread its waters before their eyes.
1889. S. Langdon, Appeal to Serpent, i. 12. The magnificent vision which lay spread beneath when the great city came up close to the ‘holy mountain’ itself.
e. To flatten out; to make of a thin flat form.
Used spec. with ref. to diamonds: see quots. 1704–6 and 1850.
1704. Lond. Gaz., No. 4034/4. A seven Stone Diamond Ring,… the middle Stone weighing about 5 Grains spread. Ibid. (1706), 4200/4. The Diamond weighing near 11 Grains, well spread, and of a perfect Water.
1811. Pinkerton, Mod. Geog. Polynesia (ed. 3), 522. The nose is always spread at the point, perhaps owing to the mode of salutation, in which they press their noses together.
1850. Holtzapffel, Turning, III. 1322. This cut is employed upon such stones as are thin, and large on the surface, or, as it is called, much spread.
1900. Hasluck, Mod. Eng. Handy-bk., 129. Small drills … are generally made by filing the round steel wire … and then spreading the small end with a single blow from a … hammer.
f. To thrust (walls) out or apart.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 274. The whole would lie upon the ledges like a single stone, without any tendency to spread the walls.
2. † a. To draw or stretch out (the limbs or a person) in some form of punishment or torture. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 390. His leoue licome þet was ispred o rode.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 185. Hwi nam ich in þin earmes … swa istrahte and isprad on rode.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16668. Þai … ledd him þan to þe rode tre, and þar-on þai him spred.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 410. Gyf þat I dred Þe croice, quhare-in criste wes spred, Þe Ioy of it I na prechit ȝow.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 249. The mother se her sonne cruelly spredde on the crosse.
c. 1475. Henryson, Orph. & Euridyce, 149. Turnand a quhele…, And on it spred a man hecht ixione.
1526. R. Whytford, Martiloge (1893), 100. So were they sprad vpon a gredyren wt hote coles & broyled.
b. To lay down with the limbs relaxed.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, VI. 85.
| Many a fair Nymph has in a Cave been spread, | |
| And much good Love, without a Feather-Bed. | |
| Ibid. (1697), Virg. Past., X. 21. | |
| Mænalian Pines the Godlike Swain bemoan; | |
| When spread beneath a Rock he sigh’d alone. |
3. a. To send out in various directions so as to cover or extend over a larger space. Also fig.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 45. Carite sprat his bowes on bræde and on lengðe swiðe ferr.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 400. Þe sode sunne … was forði istien on heih … uorto spreden ouer al hote luue gleames.
c. 1400. Cursor M., 27877 (Cott. Galba). Glotony and dronkinhede, ful mani branches out þai sprede.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 30. Than grace spredeth her beames, that all the soule of man is bryght as a lanterne.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Pando, The elme spreadeth the branches or boughes.
1615. W. Lawson, Country Housew. Gard. (1626), 23. Looke how far a tree spreads his boughs aboue, so far doth he put his roots vnder the earth.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 643. Pleasant the Sun When first on this delightful Land he spreads His orient Beams.
b. To hold out, stretch out, extend (the hands or arms).
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 31. Ure lord him … spredde his hond, and tok his lepre.
a. 1300. Havelok, 95. And oþer he refte him hors or wede, Or made him sone handes sprede.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxlii. 6. I spred my hend till þe.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 124. He … fell downe to þe grownd, wyth hys armes sprad abrod, as Crist sprad hys armes on þe cros.
a. 1529. Skelton, ‘Now synge we,’ 60. I hold my armes abrode, The to receyue redy isprode!
1628. Milton, Vac. Exerc., 93. Trent, who like some earth-born Giant spreads His thirsty Armes.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 596. Like him, the soul … Spread wide her arms of universal love.
1815. Shelley, Alastor, 183. He … spread his arms to meet Her panting bosom.
1842. Tennyson, Talk, Oak, 225. Then close and dark my arms I spread, And shadow’d all her rest.
c. To extend, open out (the wings, etc.).
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 173. Ha sprat his wynge and up he fleth.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), V. i. (1859), 69. They rysen, and mounten ferre fro the erthe, and spreydyn theyr wynges.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xv. He rejoyced to spread his healing wings over every place.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 928. At last his Sail-broad Vannes He spreads for flight.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 135. The fly, That spreads his motley wings in th’ eye of noon.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VI. xlv. When the earth … Shook with the sullen thunder, he would spread His nostrils to the blast.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. V. iii. Swift-rending is her stroke; look what a paw she spreads.
d. To extend, make larger or wider. rare.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 399. He bulde newe citees … and sprad þe endes of his kyngdom wydder þan dede his fader.
c. 1400. Bray, Conq. Irel. (1871), 295. The Pope … grauntyd the Kyng that he shuld ynto Irland wend for to … spred the termys of holy Churche.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 147. To spred the boundes of that Jmpire baith braid and wyde.
4. To distribute or disperse (a substance or a number of things) over a certain superficies or area; to scatter.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 490. Or or flum noe spredde his fen.
c. 1340. Nominale (Skeat), 118. W[oman] scheruth corne and muk spredith.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 301. Nou han þei … spicerie sprad in her purse, to parten where hem lust.
1426. Audelay, Poems, 78. Fore blak blood he se e-spred Apon the aschelere even.
c. 1450. Merlin, xv. 240. Ther sholde ye haue sein grete trouble of tables downcaste and the vitaile I-spredde wide.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 33. Sawe dust spred thick, makes alley trick.
1592. Soliman & Pers., V. ii. Spredding on the boord A huge heape of our imperiall coyne.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 255. The flourie lap Of som irriguous Valley spread her store.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 36. There you see … men sitting upon a Carpet on the ground, with a great many Books spread round about them.
1727. Philip Quarll (1816), 42. He was busy … in turning and spreading the grass.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 7. When the Malt is dried it must not cool on the Kiln, but be … spreaded wide in an airy Place.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 611. For grass land … half as much [marl], thinly and evenly spread, will generally suffice.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 96. He poured out the powder into it, and spread it.
1895. R. W. Frazer, Silent Gods, Pearl of Temple (1896), 57. The ryots who spread the water in the fields … lay dead before the rice was ready for reaping.
b. To distribute in a thin layer; esp. to smear. Also fig. (quot. 1731–8).
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., 28. Than hauyng put to it the Storax, spredde it vpon a linnen cloth.
1579. Fulke, Refut. Rastel, 783. The residue of the … bread … was giuen to … children…, whether to spredde their butter,… or to eate it with cheese, I cannot saye.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings vi. 32. He … ouerlayd them with gold, and spread gold vpon the Cherubims, and … the palme trees.
1731–8. Swift, Polite Conv., Introd. They [polite speeches] ought to be husbanded better, and spread much thinner.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 207. A small quantity of the amalgam, spread upon another piece of leather.
1870. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 Sept., 12/1. The unknown genius spreads butter upon his bread.
c. To place in an open or expanded manner; to distribute over a certain space, time, etc.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. iii. 101. Ile spread the Watch,… Strongly to guard the place where Pedringano [etc.].
a. 1631. Donne, Epithalam. Linc. Inn, 1. The Sun-beames in the East are spred.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 209. In some places [a stream] spreads Meanders.
1743. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, II. i. 5. For whom the triumphs o’er Dalmatia spread Unfading honors round thy laurel’d head.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. v. 180. We spread our ships in such a manner, that it was not probable any vessel of the enemy could escape us.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., i. (1842), 13. Sometimes it is easy to spread these [flues] over one side or wall of the room.
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat., 133. The knowledge needed by the artist … involves various inquiries, spread over many sciences.
1885. Act 48–49. Vict., c. 50 § 11. The repayment of the money to be borrowed shall be spread over a series of years.
d. To lay out (a meal, banquet, etc.).
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 433. Beneath the open sky she spreads the feast.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxviii. At a banquet spread under a gay awning.
1828. Duppa, Trav. Italy, etc. 63. The table on which the last supper was spread is in the church of St. John Lateran.
1852. Hawthorne, Blithedale Rom., xxiv. Some old-fashioned skinkers and drawers … were spreading a banquet.
1868. ‘Holme Lee,’ B. Godfrey, xlvii. Tea was spread on the round table.
5. a. In pass. of persons, animals, etc.: To be scattered, dispersed, or distributed over or throughout some area.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 650. And or he was on werlde led, His kinde was wel wide spred.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3264. We ssolleþ hom abbe al uor noȝt … Vor hii beþ naked & onywar & ysprad wyde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6046. O þam it was sua mani bredd, Ouer all þe land þan ware þai spredd.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 169. Þerfore it is þat þey beeþ i-spred so wyde.
c. 1536. in Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 80. Thes holy men beyn thus about sperd [read spred], thorow all this lond, in euery sled.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 3 Dec. 1657. This sect was now wonderfully spread.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 302. The other [dromedary] is found spread over all the Desarts of Arabia.
1826. Samouelle, Direct. Collect. Insects & Crust., 44. He met with a certain species of Papilio in abundance and spread all over the island.
1841. Penny Cycl., XX. 148/2. The Rook is spread over the greater part of Europe.
† b. To cause to increase or multiply; to beget.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 10684. It was boden in þair ledd Wit mariage þe folk to sprede.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., I. 49. Young Epaphus … To Phaeton objects that he was bred Of mortal straine, and not divinelie spred.
6. To disseminate or diffuse; to cause to become prevalent or (more) widely existent, present, known, felt, etc.
Various contexts are illustrated by the separate groups of quotations.
(a) c. 1300. Cursor M., 6213. Son was in land þe tiþand spredd Þe folk was turned again and fledd.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 3111. Hym schamed sore of his chaunce Þat hit was so wyde yspred Þat his lemman was a-wey led.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., Prol. 2. O lord our lord, thy name how merueillous Is in this large worlde ysprad.
1503. Hawes, Examp. Virt., vii. 94. Of whose noble dedes the brute and sowne Was spred by euery straunge habytacyon.
1595. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 350. Yt was spread in the cuntry that he had convinced the minister in diverse pointes of religion.
1662. Extr. St. Papers Friends, Ser. II. 151. Such base lyes, are now dayly & hourely spread abroad against our present Gracious King.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xxix. § 6 (1699), 151. She having spread these Mis-reports before she was cited.
1725. Berkeley, Proposal Conv. Savage Amer., Wks. 1871, III. 217. Missionaries for spreading the gospel among their countrymen.
1746. P. Francis, trans. Horace, Art Poet., 469. [This] shall … across the seas To distant nations spread the writer’s fame.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xii. For this Louis promised to provide, by spreading a report that the Ladies of Croye had escaped.
1849. Ticknor, Span. Lit., I. 33. His reputation was early spread throughout Europe, on account of his general science.
(b) a. 1300. Cursor M., 12716. Quen drightin gan to sprad his grace Til his aun choslings treu.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 246. Þis wrong is brood sprad in Cristendom.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 208. The taste is a commyn witte, Spraden throgh the body.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 29. Nature spredith it through alle parties of the body, and therfore the stomak hath litille part of þe hete.
1538. Starkey, England, I. i. 7. So ys the mynd then most perfyt when hyt communyth & spredyth hys vertues abrode.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 106. O how quick doth love … spreed in every parte A furiows flame!
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., I. i. 3. The present Coptic or Ægyptian … was probably spred amongst that people in the days of Alexander the Great.
1720. Pope, Iliad, XVII. 770. Cheering his men, and spreading deaths around.
1768. Goldsm., Good-n. Man, I. She could spread an horse-laugh through the pews of a tabernacle.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., xxvi. Do thy gifts, accomplishments, and talents, spread hardness as well as polish over thy heart?
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 266. It seems likely that, by thus spreading the local interest, shows … might become self-supporting.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 4. 128. Wandering teachers … crossed sea and land to spread the new power of knowledge.
(c) 1743. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, IV. iv. 27. The Rhætian bands … Were wont to spread their baneful terrors far.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxiv. It spread a general alarm among Montoni’s people.
1831. Scott, Quentin D., Introd. Numerous private emissaries of the restless Louis … were every where spreading the discontent which it was his policy to maintain.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 157. His arrival spread dismay through the whole English population.
7. refl. a. To extend, expand, etc., in various senses.
1340. Ayenb., 17. Þis zenne him to-delþ and spret ine zuo uele deles þet onneaþe me may hise telle.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 91. Also þare ys a tree þat hauys leuys of vygour, and his braunches spredyn hem on þe erthe.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 25 b. Remember his extension … on the crosse, and consyder how mekely he spred hym selfe on the same.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 20. Before the gate a spatious plaine, Mantled with greene, it selfe did spredden wyde.
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., I. i. Tis true. Had not my Body spredde it selfe Into posteritie; perhaps I should Desire no more increase of substance.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Rich. II., cclxxx. The King now spreads himselfe; and, as a source, Issues in larger Streames, to take in more, Hee fills the Cisterns nere him.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 141. The Clouds had spread themselves over the Tops of the Hills.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 120, ¶ 11. This natural Love is not observed in animals to ascend from the Young to the Parent;… it spreads it self downwards.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. ii. 309. The mixture of these woods and lawns … as they spread themselves differently through the vallies.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, xlii. He is a presence…, Spreading itself where’er that Power may move [etc.].
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! xxv. They began to spread themselves along the stream.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. 202. A city which in the tenth century … had spread itself far beyond the Roman Walls.
b. U.S. To exert oneself; also, to make a display, to show off.
1857. S. H. Hammond, Wild Northern Scenes, 266 (Bartlett). Cullen had promised, to use his own expression, ‘to spread himself’ in the preparation of this meal.
1891. E. Kinglake, Australian at Home, 58. The gentleman who had just ‘spread himself’ was very angry at having the effect of his speech thus spoiled.
1892. E. Reeves, Homeward Bound, 204. I must (to use your slang) be allowed ‘to spread myself’ a little, and give you a minute account of everything I see.
absol. 1897. Howells, Landlord at Lion’s Head, 376. One of the jays, who was spreading on rather a large scale, wanted Jeff to spread with him.
8. To cover, overlay, deck, or strew, with something. Also without const.
a. 1300. Leg. S. Gregory (1876), 771. On bed he fel hir biside, Ysprad it was wiþ grene palle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15027. Þai spred þe strete wit cloth and flur.
a. 1400–50. Alexander (D.), 1514. He … arayes all þe cyte, Spredes ouer with bawdkens all þe brode stretes.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. ii. 5. On his head [was] an hood with aglets sprad.
1611. Bible, Isaiah, xl. 19. The goldsmith spreadeth it ouer with golde.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, xvi. 69, note. The Courts of Judicature were hung, and spread, as with us. Ibid. (1697), Æneid, XII. 174. The morn … Had scarcely spread the skies with rosy light.
1718. Lady M. W. Montagu, Let. Mrs. Thistlethwayte, 1 April. The rooms are all spread with Persian carpets.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., II. vii. Silence spreads the couch of ever welcome rest.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, I. xxiii. Another table, still spread with the appliances of breakfast.
transf. c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 442. Þe forest was fair and wide, Wiþ wilde bestes y-sprad.
b. To lay (a table) for a meal or other purpose.
c. 1460. Sir R. Ros, La Belle Dame, 101. The boordes wer spred in ryght lytell space.
1565. J. Phillip, Patient Grissell (Malone Soc.), 7. She spread the table and made me good cheare.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 340. A Table richly spred, in regal mode, With dishes pil’d.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, III. 291. We spread the tables on the greensward ground.
1761. Gray, Desc. Odin, 41. Tell me … For whom yon glitt’ring board is spread.
1859. Habits of Gd. Society, 88. He must be there to talk to the chaperons,… to spread the card-table and form the rubber.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, iv. Valerie spread her grand-uncle’s little table and placed his food before him.
absol. 1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 189. Dromio, goe bid the seruants spred for dinner.
c. To cover with a thin layer of some soft substance, esp. butter; to prepare in this way.
1579. Fulke, Refut. Rastel, 783. What so euer remained … shoulde be giuen to … children … (not spred … with butter) but sprinkled with wine.
1621. T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 6. Contenting himselfe to eate … a piece of bread spread with honey.
1707. in Hearne, Coll. (O.H.S.), II. 43. He eats … Bread and Butter, which he spreads with his Thumb.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., i. Every old woman … can prescribe a dose of salts, or spread a plaster.
1888. Times, 3 Jan., 9/5. They spread their bread with ox-fat.
9. † a. To over-run or overspread (an area). Obs.
c. 1400. Brut, lxxxiii. Þai … wenten oute of here shippis, and spraden al þe contreye.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., I. ii. 22. MacGuire, who with some Horse (likewise dispersed) had spread a good circuit of ground, in hope … to get some bootie.
1654. E. Johnson, Wonder-wrkg. Provid., 1. The multitude of irreligious … affected persons spred the whole land like Grasshoppers.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, vi. (1840), 109. Our negroes spread the banks of the lake … for game. Ibid. (1722), Plague (1884), 78. The Gangren … had spread her whole Body.
b. poet. To cover; to extend over.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 104. Rich tapestry spread the streets.
1725. Pope, Odyss., I. 173. A purple carpet spread the pavement wide.
1800. Moore, Anacreon, xvii. 24. Now from the sunny apple seek The velvet down that spreads his cheek!
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 130. Refreshing greenness spread the plain.
c. To extend or reach along.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, 127. The head spreads the topgallant yard.
10. With advs. (abroad, forth, out, up), in preceding senses.
a. 1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxii. 12. Thow hast spokun … that thow shuldist sprede abrood my seed as the grauel of the see.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 213. A clooth steyned or ymagis sprad abrood in dyuerse placis of the chirche.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lii. 176. I spred abrode a towel on the grene grasse.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, IV. i. 200. His glory, spred abroade by Fame.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 199. The credit or applause desired will be the more blazed and spread abroad.
1700. Dryden, Ovid’s Met., Baucis & Philemon, 49. Baucis … rakes the Load Of Ashes from the Hearth, and spreads abroad The living Coals.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, viii. The morning light was scarce fully spread abroad.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 392. Fermentation is always most rapid in summer; and if the materials are spread abroad during frost, it is totally impeded.
b. 1388. Wyclif, Deut. xxxii. 11. He spredde forth his wyngis.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 71. Þe kendly hete ys y-drawe þerto and spred forth by al þe body to þe stomak.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Kings vi. 27. The Cherubins spred forth their wynges.
1611. Bible, Num. xxiv. 6. As the valleyes are they spread forth, as gardens by the riuer side.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, I. 1003. Now silent night spred foorth her sable wings.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, X. xxxviii. Fix on high A net of iron, and spread forth below A couch of snakes and scorpions.
c. 1382. Wyclif, Deut. xxxii. 11. He sprade out his weengis.
1483. Cath. Angl., 356/2. To Sprede oute, dilatare, distendere.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxxi. 19. Our mindes must be spredded out … to conceive ye largenes of it.
1611. Bible, Exod. xxxvii. 9. And the Cherubims spread out their wings … ouer the Mercie seat.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 523. A third [ship] without any Colours spread out.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVIII. v. (1872), VII. 176. I spread-out to you, dear Sister, the detail of my sorrows.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, vi. The sky spread out a boundless space of deepest blue.
d. 1657. Austen, Fruit Trees, I. 58. The [fig] trees must be set against a South wall, and be spread up with nailes and Leathers.
II. intr. 11. To receive extension or expansion; to cover or occupy a wider space by this means.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18113. A deu, al for to mak þam hale, On þam sal spred.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 38. A rede cloude in þe skie about Ingland gan sprede.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 10. The hyer and farther that ye caste your corne, the better shall it sprede.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, Q j. A litle sparke spreading burnes a whole Cittie.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 10. Nature of Aire being to ascend, and when it meets with a sudden opposition it spreads.
1686. W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Course Chem. (ed. 2), 49. Gold will spread under the hammer more than any other Metal.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 332. The water began to spread over the flat ground.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 400. London spreads chiefly the Marybone way perhaps.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. 124. The clouds spread more and more.
1885. Manch. Exam., 6 July, 5/1. A fire broke out and spread with great rapidity.
transf. c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 1317. So hard thai hewe on helme and side,… That thai sprad al of blod.
b. With advs., as about, abroad, forth, out. Also to spread off, to withdraw from.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 10940. Odemon saw Ector was dede, He saw his blod aboute sprede.
1530. Palsgr., 730. I spredde a brode, as a ryver that breaketh out of his channell or any suche lyke thyng.
1535. Coverdale, Joel ii. 2. A stormy daye, like as the mornynge spredeth out vpon the hilles.
1714. Addison, Spect., No. 159, ¶ 8. I saw the Valley opening at the farther End, and spreading forth into an immense Ocean.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VII. vi. Our straight frondent Avenue … spreads out into Place Royal and Palace Forecourt.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, xv. (1856), 151. The fog spread off the water near us.
c. Of conditions, qualities, etc.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Mano, Runnyng sores: or sores that spread farther and farther.
1611. Donne, Anat. World, 357. Our blushing red, which us’d in cheekes to spred, Is inward sunke.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xi. (1840), 197. The mortification seemed to spread.
1799. Underwood, Dis. Childhood (ed. 4), II. 25. Should the shingles spread and become sore, it should be treated as directed below.
1815. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., IX. I. 60. The green becomes gradually more brilliant … and spreads over the coverts of the wings and tail.
1864–8. Browning, J. Lee’s Wife, III. iv. But why must cold spread?.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 106. The readiness with which it [sc. sarcoma] spreads in upon … the pulmonary tissue.
d. To become larger; to increase in size.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 10. The more they decline from the Æquator, the more they spread in stature and tallnesse.
1756. J. Warton, Ess. Pope, I. vii. 407. The sybil … is likewise represented as spreading…, and growing larger and larger.
1799. Underwood, Dis. Childhood (ed. 4), I. 208. The gums swell, spread, and become hot.
e. To go apart; to separate.
1839. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., II. 146/1. The violent vicissitudes of the seasons soon deranged the foundation…, and caused the [railway] track to spread.
1847. Smeaton, Builder’s Man., 146. The walls of a public building in Paris had spread, or … were thrown out of their perpendicular.
1890. Baker, Wild Beasts, II. 3. The toes spread widely upon soft ground.
12. Of immaterial things: To become diffused or disseminated.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 98. Vor ase holi writ seið, ‘hore speche spret ase cauncre.’
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 199. Þuruh þine muchele milce þet spert [read spret] so swuðe wide.
1340. Ayenb., 29. Ouerweninge, þet makeþ to moche sprede þe merci of our lhorde.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1607. Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym with-inne.
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Mother of God, 81. Thy gracious bountee spredith al aboute.
1508. Kennedy, Flyting w. Dunbar, 348. It was the gud langage of this land, And Scota it causit to multiply and sprede.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 903. A second fear through all her sinews spread.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 189. Arianisme began in a family, spread over the World.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. (1703), 139. The infection spreads like lightning; and ’tis a credit to live counter to reason.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 265, ¶ 6. I am informed that this Fashion spreads daily.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 75. His opinions are acknowledged to have spread much.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 293. This system of nomenclature … spread with great rapidity to other countries.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 457. Discontent and suspicion would spread fast through society.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 1 (1882), 449. A new moral and religious impulse spread through every class.
b. Of tidings, rumor, fame, etc.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15062. On þin worthi werkes don Farr spredes þi fame.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 365. Þis speche sprang in þat space & spradde alle aboute.
c. 1400. 26 Pol. Poems, 129. That I dyd in pryuyte, There opynly hit owte shall sprede.
1475. Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.), 45. The renome of his noble astate and name sprad thoroughe alle cristyn roiaumes.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxcvii. It was sayd howe surly they were at Burdeaux,… whiche wordes sprade abrode in the hoost.
1637. Milton, Lycidas, 81. Fame … lives and spreds aloft by those pure eyes.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 96. Which increas’d as the noyse of the attempt spread more and more into the City.
1764. Museum Rust., IV. 10. The account of this, spreading into Holland, determined the Dutch to send colonies there.
c. 1807. Wordsw., Somnambulist, 73. His fame may spread, but in the past Her spirit finds its centre.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xlii. The city had hardly been more agitated when the news of Caligula’s murder had spread among the citizens.
13. Of flowers, leaves, etc.: To unfold, expand.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 437. Þe blostme gynneþ springe & sprede.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 67. Lewis on the branchis spredis, And blomys bricht besyd thame bredis.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 48. To sen these flouris agen the sunne to sprede.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., 21. The tender flouris opnyt thame and sprad.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 530. Flouris spreidand … Of diuers hew, with mony cullour cleir.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 323. As soon as it is put into warm water, it spreads and reassumes its former green Colour.
1686. W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Course Chem. (ed. 3), 523. It is best gathering Roses newly spread a little after Sun-rising.
1765. Museum Rust., IV. 94. When the barley begins to spread, (or brewer).
14. To extend by growth; spec. of trees, to grow outwards.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 348. Him þouȝte þat þare stod a treo … Þat a-non to þe steorrene it tilde and swyþe wide it spradde [v.r. spredde].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27877. O glotori and o drunkenhede Fele wick branches se we sprede.
1340. Ayenb., 131. Vor uirtue wext an heȝ ase palme … and þanne spret and keste his boȝes an ech half.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Mowbray’s Banishm., xiv. The deper doth the sounde roote sprede abrode.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 98. Good hop hath a pleasure to climbe and to spred.
1615. W. Lawson, Country Housew. Gard. (1626), 24. The roots … may not goe downeward, nor vpward out of the earth…. Therefore they must needs spread far vnder the earth.
1676. Marvell, Mr. Smirke, 27. When it germinates, spreds, blossomes, and bears fruit.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 422. A Steer … whose Head Now first with burnish’d Horns begins to spread.
1743. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, IV. xi. 6. With living wreaths to crown our heads The parsley’s vivid verdure spreads.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), I. 83. Not rising high, but spreading wide upon the ground.
1802. Barrington’s Hist. N. S. Wales, viii. 283. The she oaks were more inclined to spread than grow tall.
1826. Art Brewing (ed. 2), 174. When the trees are full grown, they … injure the crop below; the roots, also, spread to a great distance.
1847. Tennyson, Princ., IV. 188. The branches thereupon Spread out at top.
15. To extend over a larger area by increase or by separation; to disperse.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2567. Ay wex ðat kinde, mor & mor, And ðhogen, & spredden in londe ðor.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 48. His Men pleiden and arnden bi þe weie, and spradden a-boute ful wide.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3792. Wit þe i sal be in al þi nede And gar þin oxspring wide spred.
c. 1450. Merlin, xvii. 272. As soon as the saisnes were logged thai spredde abrode in the contrey to forry.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., cccxxi. 498. So the men of armes sprad abrode.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 45. Quhair ance it fixis the rute it spredis.
1605. Chapman, All Fools, V. ii. 372. Very well done; now take your severall wives, And spred like wilde-geese.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 354. Her barbarous Sons Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sands.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. v. 173. By spreading in their cruise, there might be less danger of any of the enemy’s ships slipping by unobserved.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), I. I. ii. 59. The Romans spread gradually from one central city.
1866. Darwin, Orig. Spec. (ed. 4), iv. 152. That those species which spread widely tend generally to spread very widely.
b. To arise or spring. rare–1.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. II. i. 8. How the mixture of their rayes may breed Th’ opinion of uncertain quality, When they from certain roots of life do spreed.
16. To stretch out, extend.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17196. Vnnethes dar i sceu mi nedes Bot wit þe hend to me þou spredis.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xxv. 70. Iesu, of love soth tocknynge, Thin armes spredeth to mankynde.
a. 1327. A. Davy, Five Dreams, 12/34. Out of boþe his eren [came] Foure bendes;… hij spredden fer & wyde in þe cuntre.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 143 (Cambr.). Lo ȝond he comyth, I se hise wyngis sprede.
1748. Gray, Alliance, 100. In the sultry climes, that spread Where Nile redundant o’er his Summer-bed From his broad bosom life and verdure flings.
1798. Landor, Gebir, Wks. 1846, II. 490. There spreads a marble squared And smoothened.
1816. Shelley, Mont Blanc, 65. Broad vales … that spread And wind among the accumulated steeps.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 92. Thin, hackle-like feathers, spreading and drooping all round.
1898. R. Bridges, Hymn Nature, Poems (1912), 404. Below their breezy crowns … Spreadeth the infinite smile of the sunlit sea.
