pervaded

Pervaded is the past tense of the verb pervade, meaning to spread throughout something so as to be perceived in all parts of it. It is commonly used to describe an influence, quality, atmosphere, or scent that becomes evident across a space, group, or system.

Etymology and sense: The word comes from Latin pervadere, meaning “to go through,” from per- “through” plus vadere “to go.” In English, pervade conveys a sense of wide-reaching presence that is noticeable rather than confined to a single area.

Usage: Pervaded is typically found in formal or literary writing. It is used with objects such as “the sense of gloom pervaded the room” or “the culture pervaded the organization.” The verb emphasizes widespread reach rather than shallow infiltration. Common prepositional phrases include through, across, or throughout. Some style guides note that “pervaded throughout” can be redundant and discourage it in favor of direct constructions like “pervaded the city” or “pervaded the room.”

Examples:

- A feeling of nostalgia pervaded the ceremony.

- The scent of rain pervaded the air after the storm.

Related terms: permeate, diffuse, saturate. Pervaded is often contrasted with more physical terms like infiltrate or soak, though all can describe broad spread.