(stress variable), a. [f. WORLD sb. + WIDE a.] ‘As wide as the world’; extending over or covering the whole world.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., II. 71. I had the ground to be a pillow, and the world-wide-fields to be a chamber.
1842. Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 125. The world-wide whisper of the south-wind rushing warm.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 899. The world-wide throes Which went to make the popedom.
1860. Worcester, World-wide, co-extensive with the world; as, ‘World-wide fame.’
1877. C. Geikie, Christ, lvii. (1879), 693. The Jews thought Christ would raise Israel to world-wide supremacy.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xlii. The world-wide air was azure.
1912. Athenæum, 24 Aug., 183/1. The problems he undertook to solve were worldwide.
b. as adv.
1892. E. Reeves, Homeward Bound, 294. Where in caves live the world-wide known gipsies.
Hence World-widely adv., World-wideness. nonce-wds.
1897. Daily News, 25 Nov., 5/1. World-widely famous.
1920. F. Sefton Delmer, in 19th Cent., July, 37. Don Sturzo’s ambitions are Caesarean in their world-wideness.
