outspread

English

Etymology

From Middle English outspreden, equivalent to out- +‎ spread. Cognate with Dutch uitspreiden (“to outspread, stretch, unfold”), Danish udsprede (“to outspread”), Swedish utspridda (“to outspread”).

Verb

outspread (third-person singular simple present outspreads, present participle outspreading, simple past and past participle outspread)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To spread out; expand; extend.

Adjective

outspread (comparative more outspread, superlative most outspread)

1. Extended outward, as one's arms.

   She longed to fall into his outspread arms once again.

   • 1785, William Cowper, “Book V. The Winter Morning Walk.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson;  […], →OCLC, page 221:

     Brutes […] / Ruminate heedleſs of the ſcene outſpread / Beneath, beyond, and ſtretching far away / From inland regions to the diſtant main.

Anagrams

• postdauer, spread out