forspread

English

Alternative forms

• forsprede

Etymology

From Middle English forspreden, equivalent to for- +‎ spread. Cognate with Dutch verspreiden (“to spread, disseminate, distribute”).

Verb

forspread (third-person singular simple present forspreads, present participle forspreading, simple past and past participle forspread)

1. (ambitransitive, now chiefly dialectal) To spread; extend.
   • 1898, Omar Khayyam, John Payne, Villon Society, The quatrains of Omar Kheyyam of Nishapour:

     Or ever with me the maw of the sepulchre fed becometh, Or e'er in the dust each part of my frame forspread becometh, […]

2. (ambitransitive) To diffuse