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Added 9 October 2026

span

/spæn/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about span at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The complete duration of something.
the job was finished in the span of an hour
The distance or interval between two points.
Two items of the same kind.

verb

To cover or extend over an area or time period.
Rivers traverse the valley floor

Origin

From Middle English spanne, from Old English spann, from Proto-Germanic *spannō (“span, handbreadth”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to stretch”). Cognate with Dutch span, spanne, German Spanne. The sense “pair of horses” is probably from Old English ġespan, ġespann (“a joining; a fastening together; clasp; yoke”), from Proto-West Germanic [Term?]. Cognate with Dutch gespan, German Gespann.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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