In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
DIFFUSE
diffuse
(adjective) spread out; not concentrated in one place; “a large diffuse organization”
diffuse
(adjective) lacking conciseness; “a diffuse historical novel”
soft, diffuse, diffused
(adjective) (of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected
circulate, circularize, circularise, distribute, disseminate, propagate, broadcast, spread, diffuse, disperse, pass around
(verb) cause to become widely known; “spread information”; “circulate a rumor”; “broadcast the news”
permeate, pervade, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddle
(verb) spread or diffuse through; “An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration”; “music penetrated the entire building”; “His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks”
diffuse, spread, spread out, fan out
(verb) move outward; “The soldiers fanned out”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Verb
diffuse (third-person singular simple present diffuses, present participle diffusing, simple past and past participle diffused)
(transitive) To spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
(intransitive) To be spread over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.
Usage notes
The words diffuse and defuse are sometimes confused.
Synonyms
• forspread
Etymology 2
Adjective
diffuse (comparative more diffuse, superlative most diffuse)
Everywhere or throughout everything; not focused or concentrated.
Wordy; verbose.
Synonyms
• (not concentrated): spread out, thin; see also diffuse
• (verbose): palaverous, prolix; see also verbose
Anagrams
• Duffies
Source: Wiktionary
Dif*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffused; p. pr. & vb. n. Diffusing.] Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif- = dis- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.]
Definition: To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow on all sides; to send out, or extend, in all directions; to spread; to circulate; to disseminate; to scatter; as to diffuse information. Thence diffuse His good to worlds and ages infinite. Milton. We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations. Whewell.
Syn.
– To expand; spread; circulate; extend; scatter; disperse; publish; proclaim.
Dif*fuse", v. i.
Definition: To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself.
Dif*fuse", a. Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p.]
Definition: Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp., of style, opposed to concise or terse; verbose; prolix; as, a diffuse style; a diffuse writer. A diffuse and various knowledge of divine and human things. Milton.
Syn.
– Prolix; verbose; wide; copious; full. See Prolix.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
23 January 2025
LEFT
(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”
Coffee Trivia
