expansive (adj.)

1650s, "tending to expand," from Latin expans-, past-participle stem of expandere "to spread out" (see expand) + -ive. Meaning "embracing a large number of particulars, comprehensive" is by 1813. Related: Expansively; expansiveness.

Entries related to expansive

expand (v.)

early 15c., "spread out, open out, spread flat, extend widely;" also transitive, "cause to grow larger;" from Anglo-French espaundre, Old French espandre "spread, spread out, be spilled," and directly from Latin expandere "to spread out, unfold, expand," from ex "out" (see ex-) + pandere "to spread, stretch" (from nasalized form of PIE root *pete- "to spread"). Related: Expanded; expanding.

-ive

word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, meaning "pertaining to, tending to; doing, serving to do," in some cases from Old French -if, but usually directly from Latin adjectival suffix -ivus (source also of Italian and Spanish -ivo). In some words borrowed from French at an early date it has been reduced to -y (as in hasty, tardy).

*pete-

*petə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to spread."

It forms all or part of: compass; El Paso; expand; expanse; expansion; expansive; fathom; pace (n.); paella; pan (n.); pandiculation; pas; pass; passe; passim; passacaglia; passage; passenger; passport; paten; patent; patina; petal; spandrel; spawn.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek petannynai "to spread out," petalon "a leaf," patane "plate, dish;" Old Norse faðmr "embrace, bosom," Old English fæðm "embrace, bosom, fathom," Old Saxon fathmos "the outstretched arms."

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Definitions of expansive

expansive (adj.)

able or tending to expand or characterized by expansion;

the expansive force of fire

expansive (adj.)

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope;

an expansive lifestyle

Synonyms: grand / heroic

expansive (adj.)

marked by exaggerated feelings of euphoria and delusions of grandeur;

expansive (adj.)

friendly and open and willing to talk;

wine made the guest expansive

Synonyms: talkative

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near expansive

exoticism

expand

expanse

expansion

expansionist

expansive

expat

expatiate

expatiation

expatriate

expatriation