'widely-used' originates from the combination of 'wide' and 'use,' where 'wide' meant 'extensive' and 'use' meant 'to employ or utilize.'

'widely-used' changed from the Old English word 'wīd' meaning 'broad' and 'ūse' meaning 'to employ,' and eventually became the modern English word 'widely-used'.

Initially, it meant 'extensively employed,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.