bresten

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English berstan, from Proto-West Germanic *brestan, from Proto-Germanic *brestaną; many forms are influenced by Old Norse bresta.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛrstən/, /ˈbarstən/, /ˈburstən/
  • (metathetic) IPA(key): /ˈbrɛstən/, /ˈbristən/

Verb

bresten

  1. To burst (break from internal pressure):
    1. To issue, rush or flow out.
    2. To change state suddenly.
  2. To break, shatter (become broken):
    1. To break, smash (cause to break)
    2. To defeat or vanquish; to shatter (an enemy)
  3. To be intensely afflicted with a feeling.
  4. To hurt or attack; to beat up.

Usage notes
  • The conjugation of this verb is very variable; the forms shown are only a representative selection.

Conjugation
Conjugation of bresten (strong class 3)
infinitive (to) bresten, breste
present tense past tense
1st-person singular breste brast, brost
2nd-person singular brestest broste, braste, brast, brost
3rd-person singular bresteth brast, brost
subjunctive singular breste broste1, braste1
imperative singular —
plural2 bresten, breste brosten, broste, brasten, braste
imperative plural bresteth, breste —
participles brestynge, brestende brosten, broste, bresten, breste

1Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
2Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants
  • English: burst, bust
  • Scots: brist, bryst

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

bresten m

  1. singular definite of brest
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