(a) So as to extend a long way in breadth, so as to be broad, extensive, expansive, etc.; wider and) wider in brede; spreden (strecchen) ~; turnen so ~, to mark out such a broad circuit; (b) so as to range over, be disseminated, be dispersed, etc. over or throughout a broad area, widely; far and wide, here and there, abroad, all over [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (c) and vice versa]; ~ abouten; ~ wher, q.v.; (c) to, at, or from a great distance, so as to be far away; from afar, far and near; ?also, from off to the side, obliquely [last quot.]; (d) to a great extent, greatly; ai wider and wider, ever increasingly.

In phrases: (a) ~ and fer, fer and ~, far and wide, everywhere [see also fer adv. 2.(a)]; also, from far and wide [quots. a1500(a1400) & perh. c1330(?a1300)]; ~ and side, far and wide [see also side adv.(1) (b)]; ~ ne side, side and ~, in length and breadth, overall; (b) as ~ (…) as, as widely as, however far; also, through the whole of (a realm) [quot. a1375]; so ~ so, as far as, to the extremes that; also, in correl. construction: so ~ so…so ~, however widely…that widely, wherever…there.

So as to produce broad intervals between units; also, so as to be or become widely spaced; far apart; gon ~, of a horse: ?to take long strides.

(a) So as to be open to the fullest extent possible, widely, widely open; also, so as to gape widely; ~ open (opened), offering no resistance or obstruction, receptive, wide open; (b) so as to be flat on one’s back; at full length, supine; ~ open; ~ open slep, a supine sleeping position; (c) ?freely, without hindrance; (d) ?completely, without intellectual obstruction; (e) ?with a wide or vigorous motion.