Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To beat excessively.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb obsolete To beat thoroughly or severely.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • “To-shivered”, ‘broken to pieces’, in imitation of the older English to-beat, to-break, etc.

    The Nibelungenlied 2007

  • Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, that when he and his squires were upon horseback he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to array them so, because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto the keepers of beasts and all to-beat them.

    Le Morte d'Arthur: Sir Thomas Malory's book of King Arthur and of his noble knights of the Round table 2003

  • Now turn we unto Sir Dagonet again, that when he and his squires were upon horseback he deemed that the shepherds had sent that fool to array them so, because that they laughed at them, and so they rode unto the keepers of beasts and all to-beat them.

    Le Morte Darthur: Sir Thomas Malory's Book of King Arthur and of his Noble Knights of the Round Table, Volume 1 1903

  • Then this noble woman was sore abashed and moved with her, that she said such words of blasphemy to this holy saint, and she all to-beat her for to be in peace, and she of frowardness blasphemed him more and more, and then suddenly was smitten with a palsy, so that her mouth was drawn to her ear, and also she had lost her speech, and foamed at the mouth like a boar, and grinded her teeth together marvellously, and was sore punished in all her members.

    The Golden Legend, vol. 6 1230-1298 1900

  • a wind against them such as no man ere minded [remembered], and it all to-beat and to-brake the ships, and warped them on land: and soon came Wulfnoth and for-burned the ships.

    Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain Grant Allen 1873

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