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Webster 1913 Edition

Wide

Wide

(wīd)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Wider
(-ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Widest
.]
[OE.
wid
,
wyde
, AS.
wīd
; akin to OFries. & OS.
wīd
, D.
wijd
, G.
weit
, OHG.
wīt
, Icel.
vīðr
, Sw. & Dan.
vid
; of uncertain origin.]
1.
Having considerable distance or extent between the sides; spacious across; much extended in a direction at right angles to that of length; not narrow; broad;
as,
wide
cloth; a
wide
table; a
wide
highway; a
wide
bed; a
wide
hall or entry.
The chambers and the stables weren
wyde
.
Chaucer.
Wide
is the gate . . . that leadeth to destruction.
Matt. vii. 18.
2.
Having a great extent every way; extended; spacious; broad; vast; extensive;
as, a
wide
plain; the
wide
ocean; a
wide
difference
.
“This wyde world.”
Chaucer.
For sceptered cynics earth were far too
wide
a den.
Byron.
When the
wide
bloom, on earth that lies,
Seems of a brighter world than ours.
Bryant.
3.
Of large scope; comprehensive; liberal; broad;
as,
wide
views; a
wide
understanding
.
Men of strongest head and
widest
culture.
M. Arnold.
4.
Of a certain measure between the sides; measuring in a direction at right angles to that of length;
as, a table three feet
wide
.
5.
Remote; distant; far.
The contrary being so
wide
from the truth of Scripture and the attributes of God.
Hammond.
6.
Far from truth, from propriety, from necessity, or the like.
“Our wide expositors.”
Milton.
It is far
wide
that the people have such judgments.
Latimer.
How
wide
is all this long pretense !
Herbert.
7.
On one side or the other of the mark; too far side-wise from the mark, the wicket, the batsman, etc.
Surely he shoots
wide
on the bow hand.
Spenser.
I was but two bows
wide
.
Massinger.
8.
(Phon.)
Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the mouth organs; – opposed to primary as used by Mr. Bell, and to narrow as used by Mr. Sweet. The effect, as explained by Mr. Bell, is due to the relaxation or tension of the pharynx; as explained by Mr. Sweet and others, it is due to the action of the tongue. The wide of ē (ēve) is ĭ (ĭll); of ā (āte) is ĕ (ĕnd), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 13-15.
☞ Wide is often prefixed to words, esp. to participles and participial adjectives, to form self-explaining compounds; as, wide-beaming, wide-branched, wide-chopped, wide-echoing, wide-extended, wide-mouthed, wide-spread, wide-spreading, and the like.
Far and wide
.
See under
Far
.
–
Wide gauge
.
See the Note under
Cauge
, 6.

Wide

,
adv.
[As.
wīde
.]
1.
To a distance; far; widely; to a great distance or extent;
as, his fame was spread
wide
.
[I] went
wyde
in this world, wonders to hear.
Piers Plowman.
2.
So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to form a large opening.
Shak.
3.
So as to be or strike far from, or on one side of, an object or purpose; aside; astray.

Wide

,
Noun.
1.
That which is wide; wide space; width; extent.
“The waste wide of that abyss.”
Tennyson.
2.
That which goes wide, or to one side of the mark.

Webster 1828 Edition

Wide

WIDE

,
Adj.
1.
Broad; having a great or considerable distance or extent between the sides; opposed to narrow; as wide cloth; a wide table; a wide highway; a wide bed; a wide hall or entry. In this use, wide is distinguished from long, which refers to the extent or distance between the ends.
2.
Broad; having a great extent each way; as a wide plain; the wide ocean.
3.
Remote; distant. This position is very wide from the truth.
4.
Broad to a certain degree; as three feet wide.

WIDE

,
adv.
1.
At a distance; far. His fame was spread wide.
2.
With great extent; used chiefly in composition; as wide-skirted meads; wide-waving swords; wide-wasting pestilence; wide-spreading evil.

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