bestriding
Legs spanning something
Bestriding is standing or sitting with legs on either side of something: bestriding a horse, bestriding a fallen log.
The word extends to dominating or towering over: a figure bestriding the political landscape.
Literary and somewhat old-fashioned, it appears most often in formal or elevated prose.
Mounted rider's seat
- mountClimb up or steed
- horsebackAtop a steed
- stirrupsSaddle-hung foot supports
- reinsBit-attached steering straps
gallop · canter · trot · jockey · bridle · bit · pommel · girth
Exerting strong authority
- controllingExerting authority over others
- toweringOf imposing height
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
- overshadowingDominating by comparison
eclipsing · ruling · mastering · subjugating · conquering · prevailing · governing · presiding
Including all within bounds
- bridgingConnecting separated things
- extendingIncreasing in reach
- crossingPoint where paths intersect
- overlyingResting on top of
overspreading · vaulting · arching · stretching · reaching · covering · transcending · surmounting
saddle
Mounted rider's seat
reins · gallop · canter · trot · jockey · bridle · bit · pommel · girth · equitation
commanding
Exerting strong authority
- controllingExerting authority over others
- toweringOf imposing height
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
overshadowing · eclipsing · ruling · mastering · subjugating · conquering · prevailing · governing · presiding · reigning
encompassing
Including all within bounds
overlying · overspreading · vaulting · arching · stretching · reaching · covering · transcending · surmounting · overarching
bestridingstepping aside
Removing oneself from position
dismounting · yielding · moving away · withdrawing · sidestepping
bestridingcowering
Shrinking in fear
submitting · yielding · kneeling · bowing · groveling
bestridingkneeling before
Assuming submissive posture facing
serving · following · languishing · receding
stride, strident, straddle, astride, striding, strides, bestride, straddling, straddles