Silver beaters choose the finest coin, as that which is most extensive under the hammer.
Boyle.
Ex*ten"sive*ly, adv. To a great extent; widely; largely; as, a story is extensively circulated.
Ex*ten"sive*ness (?), n. The state of being extensive; wideness; largeness; extent; diffusiveness.
Ex`ten*som"e*ter (?), n. [Extension + -meter.] An instrument for measuring the extension of a body, especially for measuring the elongation of bars of iron, steel, or other material, when subjected to a tensile force.
Ex*ten"sor (?), n. [L., one who stretches. See Extend.] (Anat.) A muscle which serves to extend or straighten any part of the body, as an arm or a finger; -- opposed to flexor.
Ex*ten"sure (?), n. Extension. [R.] Drayton.
Ex*tent" (?), a. [L. extentus, p. p. of extendere. See Extend.] Extended. [Obs.] Spenser.
Ex*tent", n. [L. extentus, fr. extendere. See Extend.] 1. Space or degree to which a thing is extended; hence, superficies; compass; bulk; size; length; as, an extent of country or of line; extent of information or of charity.
Life in its large extent is scare a span.
Cotton.
2. Degree; measure; proportion. "The extent to which we can make ourselves what we wish to be." Lubbock.
3. (Eng. Law) (a) A peculiar species of execution upon debts due to the crown, under which the lands and goods of the debtor may be seized to secure payment. (b) A process of execution by which the lands and goods of a debtor are valued and delivered to the creditor.
Ex*ten"u*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated(?); p. pr. & vb. n. Extenuating(?).] [L. extenuatus, p. p. of extenuare to make thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See Tenuity.] 1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the thickness.
His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again extenuated all the way to the tail.
Grew.
2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills, accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
But fortune there extenuates the crime.
Dryden.
Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality.