Pervasive
/pərˈveɪsɪv/noun
Spreading widely throughout an area or group; widespread.
Did you know?Pervasive descends from Latin pervadere, literally “to walk through” or “go through,” built from per- (“through”) + vadere (“to go”), the same ancient root behind words of movement and “wading” through water.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wā- / *u̯ā-
“A root associated with going, traveling, or moving.”
Latin
Latin
vadere
“to go, proceed, move forward”
Latin
Latin
pervadere
“to go through, pass through, spread throughout”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
pervas-
“spread through, permeated”
14th–16th Century
English
pervase / pervasive
“spreading through or over something”