read over

English

Verb

read over (third-person singular simple present reads over, present participle reading over, simple past and past participle read over)

1. To read (a document, book, etc.) through, though not necessarily thoroughly.

   Coordinate terms: look over, peruse, skim, read through

2. In superstitious belief, to read from the Bible out loud physically over something so as to confer some magical relief or power.
   • 1866, William P. Nimmo, Nimmo's Popular Tales, volume 3, page 252:

     [H]e read over the changeling the following spell: Receive, O earth! O virgin earth!

   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 121:

     "He could read over and cure all sorts of ailments and sprains, stop bleeding, melt lead, and tell of stolen goods; and to tell the truth, he knew also a little about witchcraft, and could afflict people with evil."

Anagrams

• overdare, overdear, overread