1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wide  \Wide\  (w[imac]d),  a.  [Compar.  {Wider}  (-[~e]r);  superl. 
  {Widest}.]  [OE.  wid,  wyde,  AS  w[=i]d;  akin  to  OFries  &  OS 
  w[=i]d,  D.  wijd,  G.  weit,  OHG.  w[=i]t,  Icel.  v[=i][eth]r,  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  [=e]  ([=e]ve)  is  [i^]  ([i^]ll);  of  [=a] 
  ([=a]te)  is  [e^]  ([e^]nd),  etc  See  Guide  to 
  Pronunciation,  [sect]  13-15. 
 
  Note:  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. 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words