widewhere

Middle English

Alternative forms

• wyde-wher

Etymology

wide +‎ where

Adverb

widewhere

1. widely; far and wide; wherever
   • 14^th Century, Langland, Piers Plowman (A-Text), Passus 9

     Thus I wente wide-wher, Dowel to seche

     Thus I went widely, Do-well to seek

   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 134-140:

     In Surrie whylom dwelte a companye
     Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,
     That wyde-wher senten her spycerye,
     Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe;
     Her chaffar was so thrifty and so newe,
     That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare
     With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir ware.

     In Syria once dwelt a company
     Of rich merchants, and moreover trustworthy and true,
     That wherever they sent their oriental goods,
     Cloth of gold, and satins rich in color;
     Their merchandise was so serviceable and so novel,
     That every person has desire to trade
     With them, and also to sell them their goods.