borstelde

Borstelde is the simple past tense form of the Dutch verb borstelen, meaning to brush, comb, or dust off. It is used to describe a brushing action carried out in the past by a singular subject, as in ik borstelde or hij borstelde. In standard Dutch, the corresponding plural past tense is borstelden.

Etymology and grammar: The verb borstelen is derived from borstel (brush). The past tense is formed with the regular -de ending for weak verbs, yielding borstelde for the singular past. The present tense forms include borstelt (he/she/it brushes) and borstelen (we/they brush).

Usage: Borstelde is employed in contexts involving grooming people or animals, cleaning objects, or removing dust from surfaces. Examples include: Hij borstelde zijn paard. Zij borstelde het stof van de tafel. In literature, borstelde can also appear in metaphorical phrases describing thorough removal or smoothing of something, sometimes in a figurative sense.

Notes: While primarily used in literal contexts, borstelde may appear in historical or regional texts with broader or more archaic senses of brushing or cleansing. The related verb borstelen and its forms are part of everyday Dutch vocabulary and appear across written and spoken registers. See also borstelen.