An archaic or rare term possibly meaning to dread greatly or to fill with dread.
From 'be-' (causative/intensive) + 'dread' (fear). 'Dread' comes from Old English 'drǽdan,' possibly from Proto-Germanic origins meaning to fear.
This word is so rare it barely appears in modern texts, but it shows the incredible productivity of the 'be-' prefix—someone once thought 'dread' needed more intensity, so 'bedread' it was!
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