wide-bodied
wide-bodied
UK[ˌwaɪd ˈbɒd.id]US[ˌwaɪd ˈbɑː.did]
adj
Having a broad fuselage, especially designating a class of large commercial aircraft.
adj
Having a broad or wide body or torso.
Morpheme Breakdown
wide
body
ed
wide
broad
body
main part
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The compound adjective "wide-bodied" is a transparent modern English formation. Its first element, "wide," descends from the Proto-Germanic wīdaz, conveying the sense of vastness. The second, "body," originates from the Old English bodig, referring to the physical frame. The suffix "-ed" is added to the noun "body" to create an adjectival form, a productive pattern in English. Initially used literally for living creatures, its most prominent modern application is in aviation, where it technically describes aircraft with a fuselage wide enough to accommodate two passenger aisles, a meaning that emerged with the development of jets like the Boeing 747 in the late 1960s.
Analysis
Structure: wide (broad) + body (main part) + ed (adjective suffix)
- wide: From Old English wīd (spacious, extensive). An adjective describing a large extent from side to side.
- body: From Old English bodig (trunk, chest, torso). A noun referring to the main physical structure of a person, animal, or object.
- ed: A suffix forming adjectives from nouns, meaning "having, provided with, characterized by" (e.g., talented, winged).
Examples
The airline is modernizing its fleet with new wide-bodied jets.
He was a tall, wide-bodied man who filled the doorway.
The wide-bodied design allows for more passenger comfort and cargo capacity.