Defn: Extension. [R.] Drayton.
EXTENT
Ex*tent", a. Etym: [L. extentus, p. p. of extendere. See Extend.]
Defn: Extended. [Obs.] Spenser.
EXTENT
Ex*tent", n. Etym: [L. extentus, fr. extendere. See Extend.]
1. Space or degree to which a thing is extended; hence, superficies; compass; bulk; size; length; as, an extent of country or of line; extent of information or of charity. Life in its large extent is scare a span. Cotton.
2. Degree; measure; proportion. "The extent to which we can make ourselves what we wish to be." Lubbock.
3. (Eng. Law) (a) A peculiar species of execution upon debts due to the crown, under which the lands and goods of the debtor may be seized to secure payment. (b) A process of execution by which the lands and goods of a debtor are valued and delivered to the creditor.
EXTENUATE
Ex*ten"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extenuating().] Etym: [L. extenuatus, p. p. of extenuare to make
thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See
Tenuity.]
1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness. His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail. Grew.
2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; — opposed to aggravate. But fortune there extenuates the crime. Dryden. Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. I. Taylor.