Dictionary

break bread en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English breken bred; under medieval conditions, guests brought their own knives worn with them, which were their daggers they hunted and gathered with, then only fit to cut meat. From the expression “break bread with friends” the ellipsis “break bread” implying community developed.

Meanings

1. To eat a meal, especially to eat a shared meal with friends, family, guests, etc.; to be in fellowship with others by eating with them.
   • The knight swore he would not break bread in the castle again until he received reparation for the insult.
   • At last it was decided that he should take her, reaching the place about the hour of lunch, so that he might again break bread in her father's house. 1879, Anthony Trollope, chapter 63, in John Caldigate:
   • And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 20:7:
2. To take part in Holy Communion.
   • In baptism we make covenant; in communion we renew covenant week by week. . . . After offering prayers of thanksgiving, together we break bread and drink from the cup. 1979, Ronald E. Osborn, The Faith We Affirm, →ISBN, page 61:

Forms

Deriveds

breaking of bread

Translations (28)

fi murtaa leipä (eat a meal, especially shared) · nl het brood breken (take part in Holy Communion) · fi murtaa leipä (take part in Holy Communion) · de das Brot miteinander teilen (eat a meal, especially shared) · pl zjeść razem (eat a meal, especially shared) · hy հաց կտրել (eat a meal, especially shared) · pt comer em conjunto (eat a meal, especially shared) · pl jeść razem (eat a meal, especially shared) · tr ekmeğini paylaşmak (eat a meal, especially shared) · sv bryta bröd (take part in Holy Communion) · ru раздели́ть хлеб-соль (eat a meal, especially shared) · nl het brood delen (eat a meal, especially shared) · hy հաց կտրել (take part in Holy Communion) · fr rompre le pain (take part in Holy Communion) · pl łamać chleb (take part in Holy Communion) · pt comungar (take part in Holy Communion) · de Brot brechen (take part in Holy Communion) · yue 擘餅 /擘饼 (take part in Holy Communion) · da bryde brød (eat a meal, especially shared) · es compartir el pan (eat a meal, especially shared) · cmn 進餐 /进餐 (eat a meal, especially shared) · hy հաց կիսել (eat a meal, especially shared) · fr rompre le pain (eat a meal, especially shared) · sv bryta bröd (eat a meal, especially shared) · nl het brood delen (take part in Holy Communion) · es comulgar (take part in Holy Communion) · ru преломля́ть хлеб (take part in Holy Communion) · cmn 擘餅 /擘饼 (take part in Holy Communion)