bestride

/bɪˈstraɪd/
verb
  1. To sit or stand with one leg on each side of something; to straddle.
    • She bestrode the fallen log to cross the muddy stream.
    • The knight bestrode his horse and rode off into the forest.
    • The statue bestrides the entrance to the old temple.
  2. To dominate or have a commanding position over something, often in a figurative sense.
    • The tech giant bestrides the global market like a colossus.
    • Her influence bestrides the entire field of modern art.
    • For decades, the dictator bestrode the nation with an iron fist.
What does "bestride" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean