1. To cover, mark or diversify (a surface) with (things spread over it); to spread with.
c. 1205. Lay., 16521. He … mid ærmen hine bisprædde and forð hine lædde.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 364. A see-foule she becam, And with her winges him besprad.
c. 1450. Crt. of Love, xii. High pinacles … With plate of gold bespred on every side.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 252. Ther are euident foule blots where with the workes of the holy are bespred.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., II. 32. The coasts are well bespred with prety townlets.
a. 1764. R. Lloyd, New-Riv. Head, Poet. Wks. (1774), II. 68. Bespread her hospitable board With what she had.
1871. Proctor, Light Sc., 110. A wide continent bespread with volcanic mountains.
2. Said of things: To spread over, to cover by spreading over.
1641. M. Frank, Serm. (1672), 253. When our graces … bespread and cloth this earth we carry.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 297. Mats bespreading the floor of a large hall.
1832. Fraser’s Mag., V. 148. The ‘giant graves’ that bespread the shore of the Hellespont.
3. To spread (anything) over or upon (a surface).
1598. Yong, Diana, 207. But with a teint, like the Vermillion Rose, Bespred vpon her face as white as snowe.
4. To spread out.
1557. Tottell’s Misc. (Arb.), 242. With armes bespred abrode.
1646. J. Hall, Poems, 25. Since for thy sake so brisk they’re grown And such a Downy carpet have bespred.
