dis-pando or dispendo, no perf., sum; also, in colloq. lang., dispenno, dispessus (in Plaut., v. the foll.), v. a., to stretch out, spread out, to extend, expand (very rare).
- I. Prop.: dispennite hominem divorsum et distennite, Plaut. Mil. 5, 14: dispessis manibus, id. ib. 2, 4, 7 (also ap. Gell. 15, 15, 4); and: dispessis membris (Tityos), Lucr. 3, 988, v. Lachm. ad h. l. p. 201: dispansae vestes in sole, Lucr. 1, 306; so, arbor vastis dispansa ramis, Plin. 9, 4, 3, § 8; Suet. Dom. 19: neu distracta (natura) suum late dispandat hiatum, Lucr. 6, 599.
- * II. Trop., of speech, to spread out, amplify, L. Verus ap. Fronto Ep. ad Ver. 3.