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 (ve) is (ll); of (te) is (nd), etc. See Guide to
Pronunciation, § 13-15.
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.
Wide, adv. [As. wde.] 1. To a distance; far; widely; to a great
distance or extent; as, his fame was spread wide.
[I] went wyde in this world, wonders to hear.
Piers Plowman.
2. So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to
form a large opening. Shak.
3. So as to be or strike far from, or on one side of, an object or
purpose; aside; astray.
Wide, n. 1. That which is wide; wide space; width; extent. "The waste
wide of that abyss." Tennyson.