span
UK[spæn]US[spæn]
n
the length of time that something lasts or continues
n
the full extent or reach of something, such as a bridge or a wing
v
to extend across or over something; to last for a period of time
Etymology
the word 'span' originates from the old english 'spann', meaning the distance between the tip of the thumb and the little finger when the hand is fully extended. this term is of proto-germanic origin, related to the dutch 'span' and german 'spanne', and is further traceable to the proto-indo-european root (s)pen-, meaning to draw, stretch, or spin. the core concept of a measured stretch or distance evolved from the literal hand measurement to describe the full extent between two points, such as a bridge, and later metaphorically to describe the duration of time. this journey from a concrete, bodily measurement to an abstract unit of length and time illustrates a common path of semantic broadening.
Analysis
the word 'span' is a simplex word of old english origin. it does not contain separable morphemes in its modern english form.
Examples
the bridge has a central span of over 500 meters.
his career spanned four decades in the film industry.
the average attention span of a young child is quite short.