In a wide or general way; without focusing on specific details; covering many things or ideas.
From 'broad' (Old English 'brad'), with the adverbial suffix '-ly.' 'Broad' originally meant physically wide, and the abstract meaning of 'general' or 'wide-ranging' developed over time.
The word 'broadly' started by describing something physically wide, then people began using it for ideas that spread across many topics—the metaphor of 'width' became 'scope!'
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