In a state of being spread out or extended widely across an area.
From Old English 'a-' (prefix indicating state) + 'spread' (from Old English 'sprǽdan'). The compound emerged in Middle English to describe things deliberately or naturally extended across space.
Medieval manuscripts used 'aspread' to describe everything from peacocks fanning their feathers to clouds covering the sky—it's a poetic alternative to 'spread' that emphasizes the dramatic display of something opening up.
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