extent

[ ik-stent ]
See synonyms for extent on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the space or degree to which a thing extends; length, area, volume, or scope: the extent of his lands; to be right to a certain extent.

  2. something extended, as a space; a particular length, area, or volume; something having extension: the limitless extent of the skies.

  1. U.S. Law. a writ, or a levy, by which a debtor's lands are valued and transferred to the creditor, absolutely or for a term of years.

  2. English Law.

    • Also called writ of extent. a writ to recover debts of a record due to the crown, under which land, property, etc., may be seized.

    • a seizure made under such a writ.

  3. Archaic. assessment or valuation, as of land.

Origin of extent

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English extente “assessment,” from Medieval Latin extenta, noun use of feminine of Latin extentus “stretched out,” past participle of extendere “to stretch out”; see extend

Other words for extent

Other words from extent

  • pre·ex·tent, noun

Words that may be confused with extent

Words Nearby extent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use extent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for extent

extent

/ (ɪkˈstɛnt) /


noun
  1. the range over which something extends; scope: the extent of the damage

  2. an area or volume: a vast extent of concrete

  1. US law a writ authorizing a person to whom a debt is due to assume temporary possession of his debtor's lands

  2. logic another word for extension (def. 11)

Origin of extent

1
C14: from Old French extente, from Latin extentus extensive, from extendere to extend

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with extent

extent

see to some degree (extent).

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.