† beˈspreng, v. Obs. exc. in pa. pple.
Pa. pple. besprent. Forms: 1 besprengan, 2–4 bisprenge(n, 5 besprenge(n. pa. tense 3–5 bi-, bysprengede, 5 besprenged, 6 besprent. pa. pple. 3–5 bi-, bysprenged, 4–6 besprenct, 5 bysprincte, 4–5 bi-, bespreynt, 6 besprinct, -spraynte, -sprint, spreigned, 6–7 spreinct, -spreint, 6– besprent.
[OE. bespręngan, f. be- 1 + spręngan to sprinkle:—OTeut. sprangjan, causal of springan to spring. MHG., mod.G., MDu., and Du. have all besprengen in same sense. No part appears after 1600, exc. the pa. pple., and this mostly as ppl. adj. See bespring and besprent v.; also besprink.]
1. trans. To sprinkle (anything) over: a. with moisture or powder: To besprinkle, asperse.
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 190 Besprenge hyne mid þam wætere. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 73 Bi-spreng me lauerd mid buhsumnesse. 1388 Wyclif Isa. lii. 15 He schal bisprenge many folkis. c 1430 Syr Generides 7068 Asshes with the water she menged And her white legges al be-sprenged. 1494 Fabyan vi. clxxxv. 185 Whome she besprent with many a salte tere. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xii. ci, His siluer locks with dust he foule besprent. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 126 Being bespreint, dashed, and drenched quite therewith. 1606 ― Sueton. 150 As himselfe sacrificed, bespreinct he was with the bloud. |
b. with spots or patches of colouring: To speckle.
| 1388 Wyclif Gen. xxx. 39 Spotti beestis, and dyuerse, and bispreynt with dyuerse colour. 1486 Bk. St. Albans A viij b, Euery tercellis braylis been bysprenged with blake speckes. |
2. To sprinkle (a substance or things) about.
| a 1529 Skelton Vox Pop. 182 From Scotland to Kent This preachyng was bysprennt. ― Epit. Dk. Bedforde 76 Deth wyth me doloure So hath bespraynte. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 28 Insecta..having for all this life proportionably and equally besprent throughout the whole bodie. 1820 Byron Juan v. xlvi, O'er the front There seemed to be besprent a deal of gilding. |