v. Obs. Forms: 1 to-schǽnan; 3 to-scænen, to-scenen, to-schenen. [OE. toscǽnan, f. TO-2 + scǽnan to break: see SHENE.] trans. To break or dash to pieces; also, to disperse, break up (an army).

1

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Mark v. 4. Ða fattro [he] forbræc vel tosceænde [c. 975 Rushw. feoturo … toscænde]. Ibid., John xix. 36. Ban ne to-scænas vel ni ʓebræcʓað ʓe from him.

2

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxiii. 496. Ne furðon an ban næfde he mid oþrum, ac toscænede ofer eall laʓon.

3

a. 1225.  Owl & Night., 1120. Stones hi doþ in heore slytte … & þine fule bon toscheneþ.

4

  b.  intr. To come or break in pieces.

5

c. 1205.  Lay., 2309. Al þu scalt to-scæne Mid scearpe mire eaxe. Ibid., 2315. Þe stan al to-sceande. Ibid. (c. 1275), 4537. Sip orn to-ȝein sip Þat hit al to-scende.

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