abroad

What it means

1. not comparablepostpositionalBeyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries.First known use 1350–1470

   Another prince, deposed by the Revolution, was living abroad.

   1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XIV, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume 3

   1 more example

   A closer look at North Korean history reveals what Pyongyang’s leaders really want their near-farcical belligerence to achieve — a reminder to the world that North Korea exists, and an impression abroad that its leaders are irrational and unpredictable.

   2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times

2. datednot comparablepostpositionalAt large; widely; broadly; over a wide space.First known use 1150–1350

   A tree spreads its branches abroad.

   1 more example

   "Faither!" I cried as I undid the bolt and pushed the leaves of the door abroad, "Faither, ye are welcome hame!"

   1895, Samuel Rutherford Crockett, The Men of the Moss-hags, page 28

3. datednot comparablepostpositionalWithout a certain confine; outside the house; away from one's abode.First known use 1150–1350)

   I went to St. James', where another was preaching in the court abroad.

   p. 1650, John Evelyn, edited by William Bray, Diary, Frederic Warne and Company, published 1818, entry for 1650 July 7, page 207

   5 more examples

   Again: The lonely fox roams far abroad, / On ſecret rapine bent and midnight fraud; […]

   1718, Matthew Prior, Solomon, and other Poems on several Occasions

   She spoke to Strickland in a language of her own, and whenever in her walks abroad she saw things calculated to destroy the peace of Her Majesty the Queen Empress, she returned to her master and gave him information.

   1891, Rudyard Kipling, The Return of Imray

   Was it so irreconcilable, Warwick wondered, as still to peal out the curfew bell, which at nine o'clock at night had clamorously warned all negroes, slave or free, that it was unlawful for them to be abroad after that hour, under penalty of imprisonment or whipping?

   1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter 1, in The House Behind the Cedars

   But the time was soon over, and before he realized it Tarzan found himself abroad again. Several times De Coude had called, and when he found that Tarzan was anxious for employment of some nature he promised to see what could be done to find a berth for him.

   1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “A Duel”, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published March 1915, →OCLC, page 83

   There were very few people abroad and the two men standing quietly under a tree on the opposite side of the boulevard looked out of place.

   1953, Ian Fleming, chapter 6, in Casino Royale, page 34

In a sentence

A closer look at North Korean history reveals what Pyongyang’s leaders really want their near-farcical belligerence to achieve — a reminder to the world that North Korea exists, and an impression abroad that its leaders are irrational and unpredictable.

2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times

Where it comes from

1. Middle Englishabrood“broadly widely scattered”
2. Englishabroad

First attested in mid 13th century. From Middle English abrood (“broadly widely scattered”), from a- (“on, in”) + brood (“broad”). Equivalent to a- + broad.

First known use: 1350–1470