How do you pronounce overspread?

The recorded pronunciation is /əʊvəˈspɹɛd/.

Where does overspread come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

overspread

/əʊvəˈspɹɛd/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.51 in modern English

Syllables: over-spread
IPA: /əʊvəˈspɹɛd/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To spread over or across (something); cover over; be scattered over; permeate, overrun.

Transitive verb

verb

To be spread or scattered about.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"those nations of the North which overspread the world"
"Lady Bellaston fixed her eyes on Sophia whilst she spoke these words. To which that poor young lady, having her face overspread with blushes and confusion, answered, in a stammering voice […]"
"So thick a haze o’erspreads the sky, They cannot see the sun on high: The wind hath blown a gale all day; At evening it hath died away."
"Deliberately, and with a peculiar quivering smile, that seemed to overspread her whole body, she put her mouth on his."

Etymology

From Middle English overspreden, from Old English ofersprǣdan; equivalent to over- + spread. Cognate with Dutch overspreiden (“to overspread”), German überspreiten (“to overspread”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Prefix: over
Root: overspreden, ofersprǣdan

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /əʊvəˈspɹɛd/

Usage

Inflected Forms

overspreads (present, singular) overspreading (participle, present) o'erspread (alternative, contraction)

Synonyms

bespread spread