bespread

American  

[bih-spred] / bɪˈsprɛd /

verb (used with object)

bespread, bespreading

1. to spread over (a surface); cover (usually followed bywith ).

   a table bespread with fine linens.

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bespread British  

/ bɪˈsprɛd /

verb

1. (tr) to cover (a surface) with something

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Etymology

Origin of bespread

First recorded in 1350–1400, bespread is from the Middle English word bespreden. See be-, spread

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bespread bespreading

Rushing out of their house, they saw the heavens bespread with an awful pall of smoke, the under-side of which was glowing with the reflected fires of some vast furnace.

From The Cruise of the Cachalot Round the World After Sperm Whales by Frank T. Bullen

The thatch was all bespread   With climbing passion-flowers; They were wet, and glistened with raindrops, shed   That day in genial showers.

From Poems by Jean Ingelow, In Two Volumes, Volume I. by Jean Ingelow

So they lined the road on either hand, and the birds bespread their wings over the host of creatures to shade them, warbling one to other in all manner of voices and tongues.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 07 by Sir Richard Francis Burton

Sad and silent our toast we bespread,    At the empty chair looked we and sighed; All insipid tea, butter, and bread,    For the salt of his wit was denied.

From Lady John Russell by

However, he expressed satisfaction with the mahogany side-board that some previous occupant had loaned from a neighbouring house; our servants had bespread it with newspapers and made a washing-table of it.

From Pushed and the Return Push by George Herbert Fosdike Nichols

And now he hands each a mug of steaming punch, which they welcomely receive, a glow of satisfaction bespreading his face, telling with what sincerity he gives it.

From Our World, Or, the Slaveholder's Daughter by F. Colburn (Francis Colburn) Adams