Definition of spread out

The phrase "spread out" is a phrasal verb that originates from Old English roots. The verb "spreodan" (spread) and the preposition "ut" (out) have been combined to form this term. During the Old English period, around the 10th century, "spreodan" was used to mean "to scatter," "to distribute," or "to spread out." The preposition "ut" (meaning "outwards") was added to the verb to indicate the movement or direction of the action. In Middle English, the spelling of "spreodan" changed to "spreden," and by the Early Modern English period, around the 15th century, it became "spredde." This form can still be seen in modern English, especially in the past tense and past participle forms ("spread," "spread," and "spread" respectively). The use of "spread out" in the modern English language has a more specific meaning, focusing on the act of arranging objects or people in a wide, dispersed pattern. This meaning is derived from the literal sense of spreading out or dispersing something.