wide-spreadingadj.
/ˈwʌɪdsprɛdɪŋ/, /ˌwʌɪdˈsprɛdɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈwaɪdˌsprɛdɪŋ/, /ˌwaɪdˈsprɛdɪŋ/ 1. That spreads so as to be wide; that extends over or occupies a wide space. Cf. widespread adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > largeness > [adjective] > of vast extent
broadOE
sideOE
wideOE
largec1230
spaciousa1382
unridea1425
amplea1492
well-spreadc1540
main1548
overreaching1579
widespread1582
spacious1587
wide-spreading1587
scopeful1598
vasty1598
scopious1599
vast1600
worldwide1602
spaceful1621
dimensious1632
voluminousa1661
extensive1706
sheety1748
sweeping1772
extended1779
expansive1806
wide-spreaded1820
heaven-wide1835
spanless1847
rangy1898
1587 T. Newton tr. L. Lemnius Herbal for Bible l. 269 A flourishing Vine with great and wide spreading branches [L. multisque palmitibus exporrecta].
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. iii. 82 Wide-spreading Plaines, open and spacious Fields.
1664 J. Scudamore Homer a la Mode 102 A streight, wide-spreading sycamore.
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes (new ed.) I. i. xvii. 5 The vales, wide-spreading round The sloping hills.
1771 A. Young Farmer's Tour E. Eng. I. i. 45 You have every where a fine command of wide spreading fields.
1810 W. Combe Schoolmaster's Tour in Poet. Mag. Sept. 198 Beneath an oak's wide-spreading shade.
1850 R. Gordon-Cumming Five Years Hunter's Life S. Afr. I. xi. 234 A number of cattle..came to drink at the pit. Some of these carried enormous wide-spreading horns.
1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. iii. §55. 182 Wide-spreading marine currents.
1909 E. H. Burton Life Bp. Challoner II. 278 One old wide-spreading cedar.
2011 Las Vegas Rev.-Jrnl. (Nevada) (Nexis) 18 Sept. 2 j Honey mesquite is a multitrunk, picturesque tree with wide-spreading branches.
2. Extending to, reaching, or affecting many people or places; extensive in effect; far-reaching. Cf. widespread adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > general or prevalent
commona1325
generala1393
usual1396
popular?a1425
riveda1513
vulgarc1550
current1563
afloat1571
widespread1582
penny-rife1606
catholic1607
spacious1610
epidemical1614
epidemial1616
epidemic1617
prevailent1623
regnant1623
fashionablea1627
wide-spreading1655
endemical1658
prevalent1658
endemiala1682
obtaining1682
prevailing1682
endemious1684
sterling1696
running1697
(as) common as dirt (also muck)1737
prevailant1794
exoteric1814
endemic1852
widish1864
prolate1882
going1909
the world > space > extension in space > spreading or diffusion > [adjective] > spread or diffused > widely
wideOE
rampanta1540
widespread1582
cheverel1583
worldwide1602
broada1616
ubiquitary1652
wide-spreading1655
broadcast1785
country-wide1845
statewide1848
nationwide1891
planetwide1920
1655 G. Wither Protector 16 The Heroes, (whose wide-spreading Fames Make vulgar Appellations, and New-Names Grow honourable).
1723 I. Watts Serm. Var. Subj. II. v. 122 A glorious and extensive Gospel indeed, and a wide spreading Salvation!
1766 Compl. Farmer at Thistle To prevent the wide-spreading mischiefs occasioned by the seeding of this pernicious weed.
1833 J. H. Newman Arians 4th Cent. iii. 259 That wide-spreading association, of which the faith of the Gospel was the uniting and animating principle.
1843 Evangelical Mag. & Missionary Chron. Jan. 4/2 The wide-spreading distress of the working classes.
1902 Words of Eyewitness 336 Kindliness, not little but vast, wide-spreading.
2006 D. W. Baker Joel, Obadiah, Malachi 221 This wide-spreading fame of God does not fit the context.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1587