bespread

English

Etymology

From Middle English bispreden, equivalent to be- +‎ spread. Cognate with Dutch bespreiden, Middle Low German bespreden, bespreiden, German bespreiten.

Verb

bespread (third-person singular simple present bespreads, present participle bespreading, simple past and past participle bespread)

1. (transitive) To spread over; to cover with.

   Synonym: overspread

   • c. 1817, John Keats, Hither, Hither, Love‎^[1]:

     Hither, hither, sweet — / ’Tis a cowslip bed — / Hither, hither, sweet! / 'Tis with dew bespread!

Anagrams

• bedrapes