p. -bærst, pl. -burston; pp. -borsten To break, burst asunder, fail; contĕri, dirumpi, exstingui:-- Wén nǽfre forbirsteþ hope never fails, Exon. 64a; Th. 236, 2; Ph. 568. Heora bogan forberstaþ arcus eōrum contĕrātur. Ps. Th. 36, 14. Forbærst sweord Beówulfes Beowulf's sword burst asunder, Beo. Th. 5354; B. 2680: Bt. 18, 4; Fox 68, 6. Ðæt him forberste se sweora that his neck break, L. Eth. iii. 4; Th. i. 294, 16: Protheir threat failed, Cd. 4; Th. 5, 11; Gen. 70. for-berstan