English
expand
Expand comes from Middle English expanden, from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandō ‘to spread out’ (ex- + pandō ‘to spread’), ultimately from PIE *peth₂-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to spread out’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ptnéh₂tireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*pandō‘to spread’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpandō‘to spread’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexpandō‘to spread out’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400espaundre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500expanden
- Englishearliest quotation 1667expand
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to spread out’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ptnéh₂tireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*pandō‘to spread’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpandō‘to spread’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexpandō‘to spread out’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400espaundre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500expanden
- Englishearliest quotation 1667expand
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book I: “Then with expanded wings he steers his flight.”
The story
Recorded in Middle English since 1422 (as expanden, expaunden), from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Latin expandō (‘to spread out’), itself from ex- (‘out, outwards’) + pandō (‘to spread’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to spread out’
mile, repeat, compete, pen, petition, helicopter, passage, competitor, feather, symptom, perpetual, compass, impetus, perpetuate, trespass, perpetuity, pennant, pinion, impetuous, passable, petulant, patina, patella, penna, pata, petulance, 81 more
through Proto-Italic *pandō ‘to spread’
through Latin pandō ‘to spread’
through Anglo-Norman espaundre
Today it means
verb To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- / expand