overspread

present singular third person overspreads · participle present overspreading · alternative contraction literary o'erspread

1. transitiveTo spread over or across (something); cover over; be scattered over; permeate, overrun.

   those nations of the North which overspread the world

   1612, Michael Drayton, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for M[athew] Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, →OCLC

   3 more examples

   Lady Bellaston fixed her eyes on Sophia whilst she spoke these words. To which that poor young lady, having her face overspread with blushes and confusion, answered, in a stammering voice […]

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC

   So thick a haze o’erspreads the sky, They cannot see the sun on high: The wind hath blown a gale all day; At evening it hath died away.

   1802, Robert Southey, The Inchcape Rock

   Deliberately, and with a peculiar quivering smile, that seemed to overspread her whole body, she put her mouth on his.

   1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: bespread

2. intransitiveTo be spread or scattered about.