a. Forms: 6 extrynsyke, 7 extrinsique, 7–8 extrinsick(e, 7– extrinsic. [ad. F. extrinsèque, ad. late L. extrinsec-us, adj. f. L. extrinsecus adv. ‘outwardly,’ f. exter outside + -in suffix of locality + secus prep. ‘beside,’ used as a suffix = Eng. -side, f. root of sequ-ī to follow; cf. altrinsecus, intrinsecus, utrinsecus. The ending has been assimilated to the suffix -IC.] Outward; opposed to intrinsic.
† 1. Situated on the outside; exterior. Obs. rare.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. One [skin] is extrynsyke or outforth.
b. Pertaining to the outside; external.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 58, ¶ 6. She disguises life in extrinsic ornaments.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, XIII. Wks. (1888), 327. Extrinsic differences, the outward marks Whereby society has parted man From man.
1824. Dibdin, Libr. Comp., 765. The notes are worthy of its extrinsic splendour.
† c. absol. (quasi-sb.). The external signs. Obs.
a. 1797. H. Walpole, Mem. Geo. II. (1847), III. iii. 49. He missed that affection … which his unsullied virtues and humanity deserved; for he wanted the extrinsic of merit.
2. Pertaining to an object in its external relations. Now rare.
a. 1617. P. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 19. Christ … in regard of his extrinsick nature is the Son of God.
1640. G. Watts, trans. Bacon’s Adv. Learn., III. iv. 145. Astronomy exhibiteth the extrinsique Parts of Celestial Bodies, (namely the Number, Situation, Motion, and Periods of the starres) as the Hide of Heaven.
1801. Knox, in Knox & Jebb’s Corr. (1834), I. 18. To explain these, and similar passages, as if they referred, rather to a relative and extrinsic, than … a real and internal change.
1867. Draper, Amer. Civ. War, III. 487. The Confederates suggested … entering conjointly on some scheme of extrinsic policy.
b. Anat.
1871. Darwin, Desc. Man, I. i. 20. The extrinsic muscles which serve to move the whole external ear.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., Extrinsic limb-muscles, those muscles which are attached in part to the trunk and in part to the limbs.
3. Lying outside, not included in, or forming part of, the object under consideration. Const. to, rarely † from.
1666. South, Serm. Tit. ii. 15 (1715), I. 181. Any … Discourse extrinsick to the Subject Matter and Design of the Text.
1678. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, xiii. § 4. 456. Things extrinsick from, and unnecessary to, the main matter.
1715. Cheyne, Philos. Princ. Relig., I. 144. A Principle quite extrinsick to Matter.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), III. 428. The reality of universal ideas, considered as extrinsic to the human mind.
1861. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 376/1. Extrinsic.… Applied to evidence … beyond that afforded by the deed or document under consideration.
a. 1866. J. Grote, Eth. Fragm., ii. (1876), 36. Authority emanating from the public and extrinsic to the individual.
b. Of a cause or influence: Operating from without, external, extraneous.
1613. Sherley, Trav. Persia, 52. The King began to thinke himselfe, throughly established, for a long time, both from intrinsicke and extrinsicke dangers.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., i. (1700), 26. God is necessarily just, true, and good, not by an extrinsick Necessity…; but by an Intrinsick Necessity.
1819. W. Lawrence, Comp. Anat. (1822), 73. Some extrinsic aid.
1878. M. Foster, Physiol., III. i. 394. A superficial cell which alone is subject to extrinsic stimuli.
4. Due to external circumstances; not inherent or essential; accessory, adventitious.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 415. When the Exchange answereth the true value of moneys, according to their intrinsicke weight and finenesse, and their extrinsicke valuation.
1675. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., II. vi. 364. The Royal stamp upon any kind of Metal may be sufficient to give it an extrinsick value…; but it cannot give an intrinsick value.
1725. Watts, Logick, I. ii. § 4. 34. But extrinsick Modes are such as arise from something that is not in the Subject or Substance it self.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 60, ¶ 12. Not to be known from one another but by extrinsic and casual circumstances.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., II. v. 105. Without any extrinsic advantages of birth.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xxi. 612. The ages in which they would work … with fewer extrinsic incumbrances.
† b. Pertaining to what is adventitious. Obs.
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect. (1688), 261. The outward Form or Character of the Prince or State [is observable] for the extrinsick knowledg of Money.
