Patulous
/ˈpætʃuələs/noun
Spread widely open, spreading outward, or standing apart.
Did you know?Patulous belongs to a family of words linked to an ancient Indo-European root meaning “to spread,” also associated with Greek words for petals and wings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*petə-
“To spread, expand, or extend outward”
Classical Latin
Latin
pateō
“I lie open, stand exposed, or remain accessible”
Classical Latin
Latin
patulus
“Open, spreading, or widely extended”
17th Century
English
patulous
“Spread open or extending outward; adopted as a learned English adjective”
Modern English
English
patulous
“Widely open, spreading, or standing apart”
Explore more surprising origins