abroad

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /əˈbrɔːd/, US /əˈbrɑːd/, /əˈbrɔːd/^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English abrod, a contraction of on brode,^[2][3] formed from a- “on” and broad.^[2][4][5] Hoad suggests it was modelled on Middle English a brede, on brede, from Old English brǣdu “breadth”, and Etymonline gives Old English on brede “in width”.^[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Widely apart, with the parts scattered: about 1260 in the OED, the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^[6][2] Broadly, over a wide surface, is from 1297.^[6]

Semantic evolution

At a distance from each other is from about 1300.^[2] Out of doors, away from home, is from 1377 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline,^[6][2] and the main modern sense, out of one's country, from about 1450.^[6][2] At large, current in the world, as of rumours, is from about 1500.^[6] Wide of the mark, in error, is from 1806.^[6] From abroad, from foreign countries, followed.^[6] In many English dialects abroad still means out of doors or spread out.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1260 – widely apart.^[6]
• 1297 – broadly, widely.^[6]
• 1377 – out of doors.^[6]
• c. 1450 – in foreign lands.^[6]
• 1806 – in error.^[6]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. In or to a foreign country.
2. (of news or rumours) Spread widely; in circulation.
3. (archaic) Out of doors, away from home.
4. (archaic) Over a wide area.

Noun

1. Foreign countries in general: visitors from abroad.

Related words

• broad
• breadth

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)