a. and sb. Obs. or arch. [ad. (directly, or through OF. extense) L. extens-us, pa. pple. of extendĕre to EXTEND.]
A. adj. a. Possessing the quality of ‘extension.’ b. Widely extended; extensive.
a. 1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. ii. II. xxvi. Common sense, that’s not extense But like a centre that around doth shoot Its rayes. Ibid., II. ii. III. xx. Is that Idea extense? or indivisible?
b. 1644. Hunton, Vind. Treat. Monarchy, iv. 26. An Absolute Monarch who hath a power of doing, as extense as his Reasonable Will.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., Author’s Prayer 17. Their [our Transgressions’] guilt more extense than any thing but Thy mercie.
1847. Emerson, Poems, Alphonso of Castile, 63. Men and gods are too extense;—Could you slacken and condense?
† B. sb. a. What is extended, an expanse. b. ? = EXTENSION (quot. 1630). Obs.
1614. Sylvester, Litt. Bartas, 583. Wee may not match the heav’n’s extense Unto Thy Circle, infinite, immense.
1630. Lane, Sqr.’s Tale, 187. Meeke love and stern iustice so convert as each, in each, own scopes have to insert, as reason seeth cause to make extense.
Hence Extensely adv.
1626. W. Sclater, Expos. 2 Thess. (1629), 144. This comming of the Lord is not to bee taken in atoms, but extensely.
