'widespread' originates from the combination of 'wide' and 'spread', where 'wide' meant 'broad' and 'spread' meant 'to extend over a large area'.

'widespread' changed from the Old English word 'wīd' meaning 'broad' and 'sprǣdan' meaning 'to spread', and eventually became the modern English word 'widespread'.

Initially, it meant 'to extend broadly', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'distributed over a large area'.