v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: see BURST v. [OE. toberstan, f. TO-2 + berstan to BURST. So OS. te-brestan, OHG. zibrestan, MHG. ze-, zerbresten, Ger. zerbersten.]
1. intr. To burst asunder, to be shattered.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., V. x. § 1. Sco eorþe tobærst.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 86. He eal innan samod forswæled wæs, and toborsten.
c. 1200. Ormin, 16147. Himm þinkeþþ þatt hiss herrte shall Tobressten.
c. 1205. Lay., 1921. Al þe feond tobarst.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 214. Te ueond lauhweð þet he to bersteð.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xli. (Agnes), 60. His hart þane cane to-brist for bale.
14[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 246. Al to-broste synwe & veyne.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. vi. 37. To bristis scho, and rivis all in sondyr.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Chron. xxv. 12. They all to barst in sunder.
1881. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., s.v., If it freezes we sha’n ’ave it to-bost like the tother.
2. trans. To cause to burst asander, to break or dash to pieces, to shatter.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 258. Þæs temples wah-ryft eac wearð toborsten.
c. 1205. Lay., 27520. Þer iwurðen to-bursten eorles swiðe balden. Ibid. (c. 1275), 5926. Hii to-borste þe lokes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6615 (Cott.). Þis golden calf he did to brest to pudre [Tr. to peces].
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 1518 (1546). Attropos my thred of lif to-breste, if I be fals!
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. xxx. 318. They … alle to braste their speres.
c. 1530. Redford, Mor. Play Wit & Sc. (Shaks. Soc.), 7. The fall wherof downe in the rest My joyntes and sinewes all to-brast!
