Definition of the word open out

The phrase "open out" primarily refers to the process of expanding or spreading outward in three-dimensional space. It is often used to describe objects, shapes, or spaces that widen or become more voluminous as they are being pulled or forced apart. The origin of this linguistic expression can be traced back to the Old English words "āopensian" and "utgangan," which translated literally to "open" and "outgo," respectively. The former word denoted the act of rendering something more accessible or revealing, while the latter signified the event of departure or the leaving behind of a place. When these two terms were combined in Middle English from the 12th century onward, a compound verb called "openen out," or "openoute," was formed. It took on the meaning of "expanding" or "broadening," as in "the flower's petals opened out in the morning light." The modern derivative, "open out," retained the root "open" and dispensed with the prefix "ut-," becoming a simpler and more concise expression for this concept. Overall, "open out" is a versatile and eloquent phrasing that encompasses various senses of growth, development, or exposure within an extended or unconstrained setting.