spanned

verbstretch over

Synonyms for spanned

verb stretch over

Antonyms for spanned

Word Origin & History

"distance between two objects," Old English span "distance between the thumb and little finger of an extended hand," probably related to Middle Dutch spannen "to join, fasten" (see span (n.2)).

The Germanic word was borrowed into Medieval Latin as spannus, hence Italian spanna, Old French espanne, French empan. As a measure of length, roughly nine inches. Meaning "length of time" first attested 1590s; that of "space between abutments of an arch, etc." is from 1725. Meaning "maximum lateral dimension of an aircraft" is first recorded 1909. Attention span is recorded from 1922.

Example Sentences for spanned

Headquarters were in the village across the river, spanned by a covered bridge.

Brownsville had the first bridge that spanned the Monongahela River.

With thumb and forefinger I could have spanned the distance between Soissons and Laon.

The continent had been spanned; the objective had been attained.

Below them lay the Crazy Woman, spanned by the Double-draw bridge.

A path led to the brink of the gorge which is now spanned by the Routen Bridge.

From horizon to horizon it was spanned by a glorious rainbow.

What were these straps which galled the tossing neck, this band which spanned its chest?

The well is spanned by a glass roof above the eighth storey.

The lower course of the Jordan is now spanned by four bridges.