v. Obs. Forms: see BREAK v. [OE. tobrecan, f. TO-2 + brecan to BREAK. So OHG. zaprehhan, zibrechan, Ger. zerbrechen.]
1. trans. To break to pieces; to shatter, rupture; to break down, destroy, demolish; cf. senses of BREAK v.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 4. Woldon þa [the giants] tobrecan þone heofon under him.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 180. Tobrec ðinne hlaf.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 22. ʓenim, wiþ tobrocenum heafde, betonican.
1056–66. Inscr. Kirkdaie Ch., Yorks. Hit wes al tobrocan & tofalan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 131. He to-þruste þa stelene gate, & to brec þa irene barren of helle.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 490, in O. E. Misc., 51. We biddeþ þat heore þyes beon to-broken a to.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 257. His hors nekke was to brooke.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxxxviii. 410 (Add. MS.). Here is my sone … with his hede all to-broke.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. vi. 15. Sodenly shal he be all tobroken, and not be healed.
1611. Bible, Judg. ix. 53. A … woman cast a piece of a milstone … and all to brake his scull.
1623. Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. Test., Pref. 18. An old Colosse, All soiled, all to broke.
a. 1688. Bunyan, Acceptable Sacr., Wks. (ed. Offor), I. 698. This was it, that all to-brake his heart.
b. To rend, to tear (clothes or the like).
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 163. Þe chirche cloðes ben to-brokene and ealde.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 315, in O. E. Misc., 46. Kayphas his weden he to-brek.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. vii. 6. Lest houndis turned to gidre al to-breke ȝou.
c. To break (a commandment, promise, etc.).
a. 1067. Charter of Eadweard, in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 213. Ne ðat any man ðas mundbirdnesse tobreke.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 221. Gif þu þis litle bebod to-brecst.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9287. Asayli þen false king … Þat þe grete oþ þat he suor so villiche [h]aþ to broke.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.) 572. Þine hest ichaue to-broke.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 69. Asoilie hem alle … of vowes to-broke.
2. intr. To break into pieces; to burst asunder; to be ruptured, shattered, or fractured.
c. 1205. Lay., 1467. His hæfd-bon to-brec.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 164. Vor gles ne to-brekeð nout bute sum þinc hit arine.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 354. Ofte it happeth so The pot tobreketh, and farwel al is go.
14[?]. Sir Beues (M.), 1613. Me thinkyth, my hert wyll tobreke.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 452. Wallace straik ane, with his gud sper of steill,… the shafft to brak ilk deyll.
1510–20. Wedn. Faste (W. de W.), xxv. He tumbled ouer a clyffe, his body all to brake.
3. intr. To break away from restraint. rare–1.
c. 1475. Partenay, 5731. But non retourned, ne myght thens to-breke.
