widespread English · revision 7006

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1582}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwaɪdspred/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[wide]] and spread, the past participle of [[spread]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Spread widely: 1582 in MWU;^(MWU 2024) 1705 in Etymonline, the early 18th century in SOED.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes the earlier ''wide-spreading'' (1590s).^(Etymonline) Its main sense, found or distributed over a large area or among many people, as ''widespread support'', is from the 18th century on;^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) it also means widely extended, as of wings.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1582 – first use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1590s – wide-spreading.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1705 – widespread.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Found or distributed over a large area or among many people.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Spread out widely; fully extended.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wide]]

+ * [[spread]]

+ * [[widely]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}