Present participle of widen; becoming or making broader, more extensive, or more inclusive.
From Old English 'wīd' (wide, broad) + '-en' (verbal suffix) + '-ing' (present participle). The concept of width comes from Proto-Germanic 'wīdaz,' related to separation and space.
The metaphorical uses of 'widening' often describe social or intellectual expansion - widening gaps, widening perspectives, or widening opportunities. This reflects how spatial concepts naturally extend to describe abstract relationships and changes.
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