weite

Weite is a German noun meaning expanse, openness, breadth, or distance. It is used to describe physical space as well as metaphorical space, such as emotional or conceptual vastness. In English, its nearest translations include expanse, breadth, width, and distance.

Etymology and form: Weite derives from the adjective weit, meaning wide or far, with the suffix -e forming a feminine noun (die Weite). The word appears in Middle High German as weite or wîti, with cognates in other Germanic languages such as Dutch wijde or English wide.

Usage: In everyday German, Weite refers to space or distance, as in die Weite der Landschaft (the expanse of the landscape) or Mit großer Weite sehen (to see over a large distance, though the expression is more idiomatic than literal). It also occurs in set phrases like in weite Ferne (to distant places) or Weite genießen (to enjoy broadness). In literature and philosophy, Weite can symbolize openness, freedom, or the boundless nature of the sky and the world.

Other notes: Weite is occasionally encountered as a surname in German-speaking regions, though it remains relatively uncommon. There are no separate technical definitions that distinguish it from related terms; it remains a general-purpose noun for space, distance, or openness.

Examples: Die Weite der Sahara beeindruckt jeden Reisenden. Die Weite des Himmels regt zum Nachdenken an.

See also: breadth, expanse, width, distance.