Extern

a. and sb. Forms: 5–7, 9 externe, 6– extern. [ad. L. extern-us outward, f. exter outside. Cf. F. externe.]

  A.  adj.

  1.  Pertaining to or connected with the outside; outwardly perceptible; consisting in outward acts; pertaining to the outward form; = EXTERNAL A. 1 and 2. Now only poet. (rare).

1537.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. lxxxviii. 240. At that time it was necessary to have extern Gifts & Miracles.

1640.  Howell, Dodona’s Gr., 82. If the Almightie would assume a visible externe shape.

1666.  G. Harvey, Morb. Angl., xxii. 106. The Lungs … [are] very much exposed to extern and intern injuries.

1678.  Gale, Crt. Gentiles, III. 145. The externe act.

1683.  E. Hooker, Pref. Ep. Pordage’s Mystic Div., 78. O the incredibl intern exercitations and extern exertions of the veri visibl form of som Persons!

1882.  M. Arnold, in 19th Cent., Jan., 8. Pullulating rites externe and vain.

  quasi-adv.  a. 1845.  Hood, Lamia, iv. 90. Women—fair externe, But viperous within.

  2.  Situated outside, not included within the limits of, the object under consideration; = EXTERNAL A. 3. Const. to. Now chiefly poet.

1598.  Barckley, Felic. Man, I. (1603), 59. O man … that … troublest thy selfe with externe things.

1642.  Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 70. Nor are the observations of the Eye any thing profitable, unless the Mind draw something from the Extern object to enrich the Soul withall.

1649.  J. Ellistone, trans. Behmen’s Epist., ii. (1886), § 8. 30. The visible world, being a procreation, or extern birth.

1854.  Jrnl. Roy. Agric. Soc., XV. 276. Materials altogether extern to an animal … are made to contribute to the maintenance of its life.

1868.  Browning, Ring & Bk., IX. 88. Your artist … broods … away from aught vulgar and extern On the inner spectrum.

  absol.  1850.  Mrs. Browning, Poems, II. 290. And I feel the externe and insensate creep in On my organized clay.

  † b.  Situated in or belonging to foreign countries; = EXTERNAL 3 b. Obs.

1543.  Grafton, Contn. Harding, 573. I shuld desire the helpe of externe nacions and countrees.

a. 1577.  Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1633), 225. Souldiers … when they haue no externe seruice wherewith to occupie their busie heads and hands.

1605.  Answ. Discov. Romish Doctrine, 48. Any externe Prelate.

1656.  Artif. Handsom., vii. 83. Those things of externe mode and fashion.

  c.  Not belonging to a specified community; that is a non-member. Cf. B. 2 a.

1866.  Clerical Jrnl., 7 June, 548/1. The matter … affecting the congregation alone, he put it to the good sense of extern visitors who might be present, not to claim a hearing.

  3.  Coming from without, having an outside origin; = EXTERNAL A. 4. Now rare.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. (1822), 30. The faderis began to haif grete fere … traisting sum extern and uncouth violence of divers cieteis.

a. 1617.  P. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 116. Again, no extern help can make us bring forth good fruit, till it make us first good trees.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett., II. (1650), 103. It consisted in extern mechanicall artifice only.

1799.  Lamb, John Woodvil, III. Having a law within … He cannot … be bound by any Positive laws or ordinances extern.

  † b.  Law. Not essential, accidental; in phr. Extern adjunct. Obs.

1592.  West, 1st Pt. Symbol., § 36 G. Externe Adiuncts be those which are so in the contract, that they may also be absent from it: but in it only then, when it so couenanted.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxii. § 5. Xx 3 b. Which are inherent and not externe.

  B.  sb.

  † 1.  Outward appearance, exterior. Obs. rare.

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., cxxv. Wer’t ought to me I bore the canopy, With my extern the outward honoring…?

  2.  An outsider; one who does not belong to or does not reside in an establishment or institution: a. gen. Also a foreigner; formerly, † one of collateral descent. b. A day-pupil in a school (Fr. externe); also attrib. c. In hospitals (see quot. 1860). d. In monastic use.

  a.  c. 1610.  Women Saints, 30. Being no Romane, but an externe and a Barbarian.

1666.  J. Serjeant, Letter of Thanks, 97. Not by Lineall Descendents in the same place, but a few Externs.

1823.  G. Darley, Lett. Dramatists, in Lond. Mag., Dec., 645/2. Joanna Baillie and young Beddoes, a female extern and a freshman.

1834.  H. O’Brien, Round Towers Irel., 52. The bungling of natives and the claims of externs notwithstanding.

1839.  Fraser’s Mag., XIX. 170. It would be worth gold … to any unlucky extern this pinching night.

  b.  1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lii. An extern school grew round the old … foundation.

1853.  C. Brontë, Villette, viii. The externes or day-pupils exceeded one hundred in number.

1890.  Q. Rev., July, 86. At the collège Mazarin … he followed [the courses] as an extern.

  c.  1860.  Mayne, Exp. Lex., Extern, applied to patients, of hospitals, dispensaries, etc., who are not inmates; to out-patients; also to the assistants, dressers, etc., who attend such, or who do not dwell in the institution.

  attrib.  1881.  Encycl. Brit., XII. 302 s.v. Hospital, The ‘extern maternity’ charities.

  d.  c. 1610.  Women Saints, 169. Greate companies of kinsfolkes, friends, and externes compassed her all-aboute.

1870.  Contemp. Rev., XV. 590. If there were not some person representing the outer world, some extern, as the Catholics would say.

1887.  Law Rep. Weekly Notes 32/2. No sister should seek advice of any extern without … leave.

  Hence † Externly adv., outwardly, on the outside.

1568.  Abp. Parker, Corr. (1852), 325. Nothing hath chanced externly to her Majesty wherein her prudence shall be more marked.

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. (1641), 28/1.