read over

present singular third person reads over · participle present reading over

1. To read (a document, book, etc.) through, though not necessarily thoroughly.
2. In superstitious belief, to read from the Bible out loud physically over something so as to confer some magical relief or power.

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

   1866, William P. Nimmo, Nimmo's Popular Tales, volume 3, page 252

   1 more example

   "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."

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 121