astride

Meanings

1. 1
   prep

   with one leg on each side of something

   She sat astride the horse and adjusted the reins.

2. 2
   adv

   with the legs wide apart, one on either side

   He planted his feet astride and braced himself against the deck's motion.

3. 3
   prep

   extending across or occupying both sides of something

   The town lies astride the river at an ancient crossing point.

Formed from a- in the sense 'on or in' and stride. It originally described the posture of sitting or standing with the legs spread to either side, then broadened to things extending across a boundary.

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