Abread

Alternative forms

• abrede obsolete
• abreed
• abraid Scotland

Origin

From Middle English abrede, on brede, from a-, on ("on") + brede ("breadth"), from Old English brǣdu ("breadth"), from Proto-Germanic *braidį̄ ("breadth"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)per-, *(s)prei- ("to destroy, scatter"). Cognate with Dutch breedte ("breadth"), German Breite ("breadth, width"), Swedish bredd ("breadth"). More at broad.

Full definition of abread

Adverb

1. (UK dialectal, chiefly Scotland) Abroad.