v. Obs. Forms: 3 birein, 4–5 be-, bi-, byrein, -reyn, 5 berayn, byrayn(e, 6 berain(e. [f. BE- 4 + RAIN; cf. OHG. bireganôn, mod.G. beregnen, in same sense.]
1. trans. To rain upon. (Chiefly in pa. pple.)
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 344. Cloðes unseouwed; bireined oðer unwaschen.
1388. Wyclif, Ezek. xxii. 24. A lond vncleene and not bireyned.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. i. Yf good londe is bidewid or bireynid it fatteþ and amendeþ.
[1582. Batman, Barth. De P. R., XIV. xlvi. 210. Also downes be more bedewed and berained than vallies.]
2. a. To besprinkle as with rain; to wet, bedew.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 1144. After that he long had … with his teris salt hire breest byreyned.
a. 1547. Surrey, Pris. in Windsor, 42. The tears berain my cheeks of deadly hew.
1567. Turberv., in Chalmers’ Eng. Poets, II. 641/1. Teares … beraine my brest.
b. To sprinkle or pour (a liquid) in drops.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 952. Byrayne aboute uppon thi wortes this.
