Etymology Dictionary

UPBRAID,  to reproach.  (E.)   M.E. upbreiden, to upbraid; we also find upbreid, sb., a reproach.   'The deuyls ranne to me with grete scornes and vpbraydys;' and again, 'wykyd angelles of the deuylle vpbreydyn me;' Monk of Evesham, c. 27; ed. Arber, p. 67.   Up-breiding, sb., a reproach, occurs in Layamon, 19117; also vpbreid, upbræid, sb., id. 26036.—A.S. upp, up; and bregdan, bredan, to braid, weave, also to lay hold of, pull, draw, used (like Icel. bregða) in a variety of senses; so that up-braid is simply compounded of Up and Braid, q.v.   The orig. sense of upbraid was prob. to lay hands on, lay hold of, hence to attack, lay to one's charge.   Cf. 'Bregdeð sóna feónd be ðám feaxe' = he shall soon seize the fiend by the hair, Salomon and Saturn, ed. Grein, 99; and see bregdan in Grein, i. 138.   Cf. Dan. bebreide, to upbraid, which only differs in the prefix (Dan. be- = E. be-).  Der. upbraid-ing, sb., as above.   ➩ The alleged A.S. uppgebredan (Somner) is unauthorised.