a. and sb. Forms: 6 extaunt, (7 extent), 7–8 exstant, 5– extant. [ad. L. ex(s)tant-em, pr. pple. of ex(s)tāre to stand forth, be prominent, be visible, exist, f. ex- out + stāre to stand. Cf. Fr. extant.]
A. adj.
1. Standing out or above any surface; projecting, protruding, protuberant. arch.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 110. After that the parte extante or the knot of the nauyll is fallen [etc.].
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., II. ii. rule vi. § 30. An image … contains … all sorts of representations, flat or extant.
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. (1682), 166. The Plug was extant above the orifice of the vessel.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 205. In St. Paul’s it is extant out of the wall.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IV. 174. Neck and barb observing from the flesh Extant.
1814. Cary, Dante, XII. 116. Some, who at the throat Were extant from the wave.
1841. Borrow, Zincali, I. I. viii. 134. Its naked body half extant from the coarse blanket.
2. Standing forth to view; in early use, with phrase Extant to the sight, to be seen: prominent, conspicuous, manifest. Now arch. rare.
1557. Order of Hospitalls, F v. The same booke is ordered, extant to be seene.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 155. There are yet extant to the eie, the ruined walles of an auncient fortification.
1627. E. F., Hist. Edw. II. (1680), 21. Old Quarrels are ript up, to make his spleen more extant.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iii. 95. They are not extant which in some mens memory have been standing.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1877), IV. xii. 278. The truth should be visibly extant.
† 3. Existing so as to be publicly seen, found, or got at; accessible, get-at-able. Obs.
1555. Lydgate’s Chron. Troy, To Rdr. Whose bokes … were not of long extant, yet at the last beyng found at Athenes, have [etc.].
1638. Penkethman, Artach., C iv. He … may with the assistance of the Constable seise all the Bread extant at the Bakers house.
4. In existence; existing. † Of time: Present. arch. † Of a fashion, etc.: In vogue, current.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 18 b. Among so manifold miserable afflictions of the Jewes … they [the tables of God’s covenant] remained still safe and extant.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., II. v. (1588), 191. Other matters not extant in the booke of the Termes.
1590. Swinburn, Testaments, 280. The alienation made before the condition were extant or accomplished.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 106. For look how many heresies are extant in the church.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 168. In this extant moment.
1618. Wither, Motto, ‘Nec Curo’ (1633), 545. The fashions that last extant be.
1630. Prynne, Anti-Armin., 126. There is not a Pelagian, an Arminian this day extant, that can name [etc.].
1709. Steele & Swift, Tatler, No. 66, ¶ 1. The most proper Form of Words that were ever extant in any … Language.
1822. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life, II. vii. 152. If routes and reviews had been extant in Shakespeare’s time.
1835. I. Taylor, Spir. Despot., v. 229. A religious community … everywhere extant.
1849. Stovel, Canne’s Necess., Introd. 10. Cromwell, Vane, and their companions were extant.
b. Continuing to exist; that has escaped the ravages of time, still existing.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 462 b. In the same Church is extaunt the Altar whereupon he prayd.
1610. A. Cooke, Pope Joan, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), IV. 57. I say, there are few of his works extant; and in those which are extant, he shews no gall against the popes.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 191. She leapes into … fire, which leaues nothing extant saue fame and ashes.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1745–6. None of his letters during those years are extant.
1848. Lytton, Harold, I. iv. The Roman temple, extant in the time of Geoffry of Monmouth.
1864. Bowen, Logic, xii. 384. These fossils do not differ more from the extant types.
1874. Green, Short Hist., i. 7. The only extant British account is that of the monk Gildas.
† B. sb. a. An extant copy (cf. EXTAT). b. pl. Remains. Obs.
1592. trans. Junius on Rev. xi. 7. There is an extant of that matter written by the same Boniface.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Poor Cavalier, 40. Now Peace be with thy Dust … For the next motion to a Calm … Will thy poor Extants into peices tear.
