Plural of expanse; large areas or stretches of something, like land, sky, or water.
From Latin 'expandere' (to spread out) + '-anse' (noun-forming suffix). The plural form of expanse, a more poetic/literary term for large open areas.
Expanse is the poetic choice—'vast expanses of desert' sounds grander than 'large areas of desert,' which is why poets and travel writers prefer it.
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