Extend

v. Also estend. [ME. extenden, ad. L. extendĕre, f. ex- out + tendĕre to stretch. The form estend is through Fr. estendre.]

  I.  To stretch cut.

  1.  trans. To stretch forcibly, strain.

  † a.  To stretch or pull out (anything) to its full size; to strain (nerves); to hold or maintain in a stretched condition. Also, to train (a vine); after L. extendere vitem. Obs.

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., I. 140. In landes drie and hoote noo vyne extende.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 255 b. He was extended & strayned on y^e crosse.

1541.  Barnes, Wks. (1573), 246/1. Her wrinckles bee extended and stretched out.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 5. It [Asse’s milk] extending the skinn, making it tender and removing wrinkles.

1725.  Pope, Odyssey, V. 438. To reach Phæacia all thy nerves extend.

1794.  Rigging & Seamanship, I. 83. Quadrilateral sails are extended by yards.

  b.  Manege. (See quot.).

1727.  Bailey, vol. II., To extend (a Horse) signifies to make him go large.

1753.  in Chambers, Cycl. Supp.

1886.  Sat. Rev., 6 March, 327/1. Considering … what his [the horse’s] stride is when really extended.

  † c.  To strain the capacity of, distend (a vessel, etc.). Also fig. Obs.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. iv. B iij b. Of alle goodes they extende them & discorde fro god.

1533.  Elyot, Cast. Helthe, II. xxxv. 53. Men and women … muste reade oftentimes lowde … extendyng out the wyndepype.

a. 1642.  Jos. Shute, Judgem. & Mercy (1645), 99. No man should extend himself beyond the latitude of his own calling.

1704.  Swift, Mech. Operat. Spirit, Misc. (1711), 299. The Saint felt his Vessel full extended in every Part.

c. 1720.  Prior, Turtle & Sparrow, 19. Fair swans, extend your dying throats.

  d.  intr. for refl. To expand; to become distended.

1753.  N. Torriano, Midwifry, 18. Some Authors alledge, that the Womb grows thinner, others that it grows thicker in uterine Gestation, as it extends.

  2.  In weaker sense: To straighten out, place at full length; to lay out (the body, limbs, etc.) in a horizontal position. † Also intr. for refl.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 363. Flemer of feendes, out of him and here On which thy lymes feithfully extenden, Me kepe.

1624.  Donne, Devotions, 65. And if those pieces were extended and stretched out in Man.

a. 1729.  Congreve, Lament. Hecuba, in Chalmers X. 276. Hector’s Corps extended on a Bier.

1872.  Huxley, Physiol., vii. 174. A limb is flexed, when it is bent; extended, when it is straightened out.

1888.  Hatch, Hibbert Lect. (1890), iii. 74. When it was said, ‘The government shall be upon his shoulder,’ it was meant that Christ should be extended on the cross.

  b.  To write out at full length; esp. to transcribe (shorthand notes) in longhand; to expand (graphical contractions). Also, to write out (a legal instrument) in proper form (now chiefly Sc.).

a. 1639.  Wotton, Reliquiæ (1672), 89. The contracting and extending the lines and sense of others … would appear a thankless office.

a. 1693.  Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxiii. (1694), 184. We will take Instrument formally and authentically extended.

1826.  J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 334. ‘Takin down the conversation in heeroglyphics, and at hame, extendin your notes.’

1874.  in Ripon Ch. Acts, Pref. 8. The Surtees Society has always adhered to the plan of ‘extending’ contractions.

1882.  Ogilvie, To extend a deed, to make a fair copy of a deed on paper, parchment, or the like, for signature; to engross a deed. [Scotch.]

  c.  Comm. To extend an invoice, etc.: to calculate and ‘carry out’ the amount of each line contained in it. (Cf. branch III.)

  3.  To stretch, draw (e.g., a cord, a line of troops) in a specified direction, or so as to reach to a certain point. In Practical Geometry, etc.: To open out (a pair of compasses); also absol.

1624.  Gunter, Descr. Crosse-staffe, I. vi. 20. Extend the compasses from the diuisor to 1, the same extent shall reach from the diuidend to the quotient.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, I. 219/587. Some extend the Wall, some build the Citadel.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 343. Then removing the string the space of 15 degrees in the Quadrant, and extending it to the Equator on the Cieling.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 55, ¶ 5. His Troops are extended from Exilles to Mount Genevre.

1724.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 170. Colonel Sandys … extends himself to the left … and began to form his men.

1794.  J. H. Moore, Pract. Navig., 64. Extend from radius or 90° to the course 5 points on the line of sines.

  b.  refl. and intr. for refl. To stretch or continue for a specified distance; to reach, be continuous, to or towards a certain point of space or time.

1481.  Caxton, Godfrey, 73. Thens departeth an arme like a fresshe water, And estendeth it toward the eest.

1514.  Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), 9. An hepe of snowe So hye extendynge our steple is more lowe.

1553.  Brende, Q. Curtius, VII. (1570), 193. So much ground as his campe did conteyne, extendyng in compasse lx. furlonges.

1607.  Shaks., Timon, II. ii. 160. To Lacedemon did my Land extend.

1662.  Graunt, Observ. Bills Mortal. (1665), 116. No greater than that unto which the voice of a Preacher of a middling Lungs can easily extend.

1711.  Pope, Temp. Fame, 265. Arches widen, and long iles extend.

1769.  De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit., I. 183. The Shore extends itself a great Way into the Sea.

1796–7.  Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 169. The point and division on which the whole are to form will be named; the whole will extend from it.

1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 16. Neustria, which, under Chilperic, extended from the Meuse almost to the present southern limits of France.

1872.  E. Spaulding, in Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 90. The Blue Lead … extends through the county parallel to the main range.

1886.  Manch. Exam., 9 Feb., 5/2. The strike has extended over 22 weeks.

  fig.  1552.  Huloet, Extende to, or be as much worth as his word, suppeto.

  † c.  To be directed to an object; to tend. Also, to belong, pertain. Obs.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), C v. He trauayled … too … serche what extended to the arte of Nygromanycye.

1580.  Baret, Alv., E 492. To Extend to: to touch a thing, pertineo.

1581.  Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 49. Anger is no sinne, so that … the ende whether it extendeth be vertuous.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. vi. § 1. Ff 2 b. No light of Nature extendeth to declare the will and true worship of God.

  4.  trans. To lengthen, prolong; to continue to a greater distance; to push forward in space.

1569.  Abp. Parker, Corr. (Parker Soc.), 351. I take some heed not to extend my sleeve beyond my arm.

1765.  A. Dickson, Treat. Agric. (ed. 2), 18. Let the earth be extracted, and plants cannot extend themselves.

1854.  Act 17–8 Vict., c. clxxxvi. (title), An Act to enable the Portsmouth Railway Company … to extend their … Line from Godalming to Shalford.

  b.  To prolong in duration.

1580.  Baret, Alv., E 492. Is extended to this time.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 57. If much you note him You shall offend him, and extend his Passion, Feed, and regard him not.

a. 1631.  Donne, Serm., vii. (1640), 62. If I extend this Sermon, if you extend your Devotion, or your Patience, beyond the ordinary time.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., IV. 18. To Helen’s bed the Gods alone assign Hermione t’ extend the regal line.

1796.  C. Marshall, Garden., xix. (1813), 349. The season may be extended.

1882.  Cussans, Handbk. Heraldry, Introd. 14. It is the labour … of vanity to extend the term of this ideal longevity.

  c.  To carry to a further point of completeness.

1727.  Swift, Gulliver, II. III. iii. 42. For this Advantage hath enabled them to extend the Discoveries much farther than our Astronomers in Europe.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, ix. 118. Machinery might be extended to the utmost perfection.

  5.  To spread out in area; to make to cover a certain space; † to open out (something furled up).

1675.  Evelyn, Terra (1676), 148. You may … extend a Tent over it, to keep out Rain.

1730.  A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 349. An Awning was extended over the Amphitheatre.

1767.  Franklin, Lett. (1833), 107. Men … carry umbrellas in their hands, which they extend in case of rain.

  b.  Metaph. Used in passive with generalized sense: To possess ‘extension’ or spatial magnitude.

1666.  [see EXTENDED ppl. a. 4].

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. i. § 19 (1695), 48. For ’tis altogether as intelligible to say, that a body is extended without parts, as that any thing thinks without being conscious of it, or perceiving, that it does so.

1717.  Prior, Alma, I. 96. The mind, say they, while you sustain To hold her station in the brain; You grant, at least she is extended.

1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, xlvii. ‘I know not’ … ‘how to conceive anything without extension: what is extended must have parts.’

1796.  Hutton, Math. Dict., I. 460/2. It is usual to consider it [a body] as extended only in length, breadth, and thickness.

1862.  [see EXTENDED ppl. a. 4].

  c.  intr. To cover an area; to stretch out in various directions. Of immaterial things: To have a certain range or scope.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., III. xxi. 181. This [heaven] is that gyueth to vs his colour blew, the whiche estendeth aboue thayer.

1559.  in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. x. 28. The Parliament, which I knowledge to be of great Strengthe in Matters whereunto it extendethe.

1597.  Daniel, Civ. Wares, VI. 97. All the purple plains that wide extend.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. viii. § 3. The commandement extendeth more ouer the wils of men, and not only ouer their deeds and seruices.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 111/514.

1722.  De Foe, Plague (1754), 99. But these Robberies extended chiefly to Wearing-Cloaths, Linen [etc.].

1729.  Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 162. Moral obligations can extend no further than to natural possibilities.

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 88. Thou art he whose goodness extendeth to all men.

1876.  J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. ii. 70. Its commerce extended from China to Europe.

  6.  trans. To widen, enlarge (boundaries); to enlarge the area of. Also intr. for refl.

1580.  Baret, Alv., E 492. To extend the bounds.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 127/177. My Song to Flow’ry Gardens might extend.

1869.  Farrar, Fam. Speech, ii. 40. First westward and northward … the Aryans extended.

1876.  E. Jenkins, Blot on Queen’s Head, 3. The way in which this inn had gone on extending.

  b.  To widen the range, scope, area of application of (a law, operation, dominion, state of things, etc.); to enlarge the scope or meaning of (a word).

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., X. i. 177. Onen … is extended to the interpretation of dreames.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. viii. (1611), 21. Yet do we not therefore so far extend the law of reason.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. ii. 62. You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Finde cause in Cæsar.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 40/1. Crœsus wondered to see their Plenty extended to the very Beasts.

1709.  Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 103, ¶ 13. To strengthen and extend his Sight by a Glass.

1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), IV. xv. 302. We are taught to extend our prayers beyond our own private necessities.

1853.  O. Gordon, in Report, etc. on Recomm. Oxf. Univ. Comm., 196. I have nothing to say about the fourth mode suggested of extending the University.

1854.  H. Spencer, Genesis of Science, Ess. (1858), 162. The invention of the barometer enabled men to extend the principles of mechanics to the atmosphere.

  refl.  1798.  Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, i. 11. The fashion extended itself among the courtiers.

1855.  Brewster, Newton, II. xix. 207. The reputation of Newton had been gradually extending itself on the continent.

  † c.  refl. To give oneself space; to dilate, enlarge on a subject. Obs.

a. 1635.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 41. I forbear to extend myself in any further relation upon this subject.

1655.  Earl Orrery, Parthenissa (1676), 242. He extended himself eloquently, and largely upon this subject.

  † 7.  To magnify in representation; to exaggerate. Obs.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIX. (Percy Soc.), 143. I can nothing extende the goodlines Of her temple.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., I. i. 25. Second Gent. You speake him farre. First Gent. I do extend him (Sir) within himselfe.

  II.  To stretch forth, hold out.

  8.  To stretch forth (the arm or hand). Cf. 2. Also, to hold out, put forward (a staff, etc.).

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. v. 72. I extend my hand to him thus.

1611.  Coryat, Crudities, 87. That they [Vines] may the more extend their branches in length.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, I. 221/683. See … his old Sire his helpless Hand extend.

1788.  Cowper, Dog & Water Lily, v. With cane extended far.

1809.  Roland, Fencing, 56. It is necessary to parry with the arm a little extended.

1822.  [Mary A. Kelty], Osmond, I. 51. Extending his hand, he took her’s.

1841.  Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. lviii. 244. The strong arm of the Government could be extended out to protect them.

  9.  To hold out, accord, grant (kindness, indulgence) to, towards a person; to offer (advice). † Formerly also, to display (malice), inflict (vengeance), issue (a legal process) against, upon.

1540–1.  Elyot, Image Gou. (1544), 59 a. He … extended a more stately facion than purteyned to his degree.

1547.  Act 1 Edw. VI., c. 3 § 16. Such as are in unfained miserie … to whom charitie ought to be extended.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 3. He extendeth vengeance vpon the wicked.

1597.  J. King, On Jonas, 256. Since thou hast malice to bestowe, extende it vpon Ahab.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., II. iii. 65. Towards himselfe … We must extend our notice.

1611.  Bible, Ps. cix. 12. Let there be none to extend mercy vnto him.

1712–4.  Pope, Rape Lock, II. 11. To all she smiles extends.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. ix. 68. You should extend to me the same … indulgence.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 687. You … begged that some allowance might be extended to you.

  b.  U.S. To extend a call (to a pastorate). Cf. CALL sb. 6 g.

1887.  Troy Daily Times, 5 Nov. Plymouth Church has decided to extend a call to the Rev. Charles A. Berry.

  c.  Law. To present (a protest).

1889.  [see EXTENDED 5].

Mod.  ‘A captain of a merchant vessel, in case of loss or average, extends his protest. So does a notary when he has to protest a bill of exchange.’ (H. H. Gibbs.)

  III.  To value, assess. [Of somewhat obscure origin; perh. derived inversely from EXTENT, and thus etymologically = ‘to ascertain the extent of’; perh. with notion of setting down at length: cf. 2 b, c.]

  10.  To assess, value; esp. in Law: To value (lands, etc.).

[1292.  Britton, III. vii. § 4. Maunderoms al viscounte … qe par chevalers et autres bones gentz … face estendre totes les terres.]

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 202. Now wille kyng R. alle his lond extende, Merschalle & stiward þerfor about dos sende.

1523.  Fitzherb., Surv., Prol. b ii. It is necessarye to be knowen, howe all these maners … shulde be extended, surueyed … and valued in euery parte.

1602.  Fulbecke, 2nd Pt. Parall., 40 b. That which was within the bayliwicke…, himselfe caused to be extended by parcels, and at the end he put the summe of the value.

1848.  Wharton, Law Lex., 242/1. Extend, to value the lands, &c., of one bound by a statute, who has forfeited his bond, at such an indifferent rate, as by the yearly rent, the creditor may in time be paid his debt.

  11.  Law. To take possession of by a writ of extent; to seize upon (land, etc.) in satisfaction for a debt; to levy upon.

1585.  Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 82. Our goods are not spoiled … our lands extended, our bodies imprisoned.

1625.  Massinger, New Way, V. i. When This manor is extended to my use, You’ll speak in an humbler key.

a. 1626.  Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law (1630), 52. The Land is to be extended for a yearely value, to satisfie the Debt.

1767.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 331. A use could not be extended by writ of elegit, or other legal process, for the debts of cestuy que use.

1798.  Dallas, Amer. Law Rep., II. 76. Whether a life estate could be extended.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 56. If he releases all his right to the land, yet he may extend it afterwards.

1823.  in Crabb, Technol. Dict.

  b.  transf. To seize upon, take possession of, by force.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 105. Labienus (this is stiffe-news) Hath with his Parthian Force Extended Asia.

1610.  Tofte, Honour’s Acad., 31. For where the publique good is extended, not any man there should seeke his owne particular quiet.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. III. 436/219. The Law … Will soon extend her for your Bride.

  † c.  intr. with upon: To levy upon. Obs. rare.

1564–78.  Bulleyn, Dial. agst. Pest. (1888), 11. I haue extended vpon aunciente landes in the Countrie for the breach of couenauntes.

  ¶ Erron. used for ATTEND.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 239/1. Prayeng god … that he wold gyue hym grace that lie myght estende to the helthe of his neyghbours.

  Hence Extending vbl. sb., the action of the vb. EXTEND; also an instance of this. Extending ppl. a., that extends; that is expanding, spreading out, or becoming larger.

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. The whiche [veins] after the braunches … and the extending by the arme are diuersified.

a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. V., Wks. (1711), 107. For the amplifying and extending of the Christian Religion.

1760.  J. Woolman, Jrnl., vii. 95. Through the gracious extendings of Divine help.

1812.  Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 12. Warm with the ardor of an extending and exalted religion.

1887.  J. C. Fielden, in Pall Mall Gaz., 28 Feb., 1/2. What chance can there be of a profitable and extending business in these goods?

Mod. Furnisher’s Price-list, An extending Dining Table.