Husband is persevering holding in spread (8)
I believe the answer is:
disperse
'spread' is the definition.
('disperse' can be a synonym of 'spread')
'husband is persevering holding' is the wordplay.
'holding' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'DISPERSE' can be found hidden inside 'husband is persevering'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for disperse that I've seen before include "Presides so as to scatter" , "Cause to separate and go in different directions" , "Scatter or disband" , "Spread widely" , "Scatter, dispel" .)