a. [a. Fr. extensible, ad. L. *extensibil-is, f. extens- ppl. stem of extendĕre to EXTEND.]
1. Of a material object: a. Capable of being extended in any dimension or direction. b. Capable of being protruded; = EXTENSILE 2.
1611. Cotgr., Extensible, extensible; which may be extended, or drawne out in length.
1656. in Blount, Glossogr.
1669. W. Holder, Elem. Speech, 163. The Malleus being fixed to an extensible Membrane, follows the Traction of the Muscle, and is drawn inwards.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., xiii. 200. This perfect Metal … extensible like unto Gold.
1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 161. An artery is an extensible, elastic tube.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., I. 87. Lips extremely long and extensible.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 148/1. The skin is more pliant and extensible.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 796. A layer of tissue … so extremely extensible.
fig. 1871. trans. Lange’s Comm. Jerem., 138. Our patience and steadfastness are as elastic and extensible as our faith is firm.
2. Of an immaterial object: Capable of being enlarged in scope or meaning.
1654. Hammond, Answ. Animadv. Ignat., iii. § 4. 76. If Lombard’s words should … be thought farther extensible.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., xiv. 87. And, that Love is blind, is extensible beyond the object of Poetry.
1755. in Johnson.
1775. in Ash.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., ii. 20. A system which is extensible to every thing short of infinity.
1890. Spectator, 18 Jan., 76/2. Italy … has acquired by formal treaty an indefinite but extensible protectorate over Abyssinia.
Hence Extensibleness, the quality of being extensible: extensibility.
1727. in Bailey, vol. II.
1755. in Johnson.
1877. E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. xvii. 601. There is no contradiction between finite extent, and infinite extensibleness.
