Etymology Map
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Expand

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to become larger

Where does the word "expand" come from? It comes from Latin expandere, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
expandere
Latin · ancient
"to spread out"
'ex-' plus 'pandere', to spread
2
Stage 2 of 2
expand
English · 1400s
"to spread out"
'expanse' shares the root
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Read the full story

Expand’s story begins in Latin: expandere meant “to spread out.” 'ex-' plus 'pandere', to spread. It reached English by 1400s as expand. 'expanse' shares the root. Today, expand means to become larger.