To expand
Example: The empire decided to expand its territory during the 18th century.
Definition
"To expand" means to increase in size, scope, or influence, often by adding more territory, resources, or power. In a historical context, "to expand" refers to the deliberate growth of an empire, nation, or organization beyond its original boundaries or capacities.
Etymology
The verb "to expand" comes from the Latin word 'expandere,' which means 'to spread out' or 'to unfold.' It combines 'ex-' meaning 'out' and 'pandere' meaning 'to spread.' Did you know? The word originally described the physical act of unfolding or stretching before taking on broader meanings like growth or increase.
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"To expand" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - History - (B1) - set 1", containing 204 commonly used words.
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