strēam ūt brecan of beorge, _saw a stream break out from the rocks_,
2547; lēt se hearda
Higelāces
þegn brādne mēce .
Beowulf
.. āð-sweord eorla, _then are the oaths of
the men broken_, 2064.--2) probably also simply _to break in upon
something, to press upon_, w. acc.: pret. sg. sǣdēor monig hildetūxum
heresyrcan bræc, _many a sea-animal pressed with his battle-teeth upon the
shirt of mail_ (did not break it, for, according to 1549 f., 1553 f., it
was still unharmed). 1512.--3) _to break out, to spring out_: inf. geseah
...
strēam ūt brecan of beorge, _saw a stream break out from the rocks_,
2547; lēt se hearda
Higelāces
þegn brādne mēce .
.. brecan ofer bordweal,
_caused the broadsword to spring out over the wall of shields_, 2981.--4)
figuratively, _to vex, not to let rest_: pret. hine fyrwyt bræc, _curiosity
tormented_ (N.H.G. brachte die Neugier um), 232, 1986, 2785.
ge-brecan, _to break to pieces_: pret. bānhūs gebræc, _broke in pieces his
body_ (Bēowulf in combat with Dæghrefn), 2509.
