extrinsic, a.
(ɛkˈstrɪnsɪk)
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. a. 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-n.). The external signs. Obs.
| a 1797 H. Walpole Mem. Geo. II (1847) III. iii. 49 He missed that affection..which his virtues..deserved; for he wanted the extrinsic of merit. |
2. a. Pertaining to an object in its external relations. Now rare.
| a 1617 Bayne On Eph. (1658) 19 Christ in regard of his extrinsick nature is the Son of God. 1640 G. Watts tr. 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). 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. a. 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..established..both from intrinsicke and extrinsicke dangers. 1699 Burnet 39 Art. i. (1700) 26 God is..just..not by an extrinsick Necessity..but by an Intrinsick Necessity. 1819 W. Lawrence Comp. Anat. (1822) 73 Some extrinsic aid. 1878 Foster Phys. iii. i 394 A superficial cell which alone is subject to extrinsic stimuli. |
c. extrinsic factor (or element), vitamin B12: so called because, before its identity with vitamin B12 was established, an anti-anæmia factor was known which could be supplied extrinsically, i.e. in the diet, but which was ineffective in the absence of an ‘intrinsic factor’ secreted by the stomach.
| 1930 Amer. Jrnl. Med. Sci. CLXXX. 306 The process freely permits an interaction between a factor present in the normal gastric juice, which may thus be termed intrinsic, and a factor contained in the beef muscle, which is thus an extrinsic element. 1944 Science 28 July 82/1 Extrinsic factor can be partially or completely removed from crude casein by repeated precipitation or by extraction with dilute acid or with alcohol. 1970 W. S. Hoffman Biochem. Clin. Med. (ed. 4) xi. 508 The extrinsic factor..is now regarded as identical with vitamin B12. |
4. a. Due to external circumstances; not inherent or essential; accessory, adventitious.
| 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 415 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..Metal may be sufficient to give it an extrinsick value..but it cannot give an intrinsick value. 1725 Watts Logic i. ii. §4 Extrinsic modes are such as arise from something that is not the subject or substance itself. 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. (1685) 261 The outward Form or Character of the Prince or State [is observable] for the extrinsick Knowledg of Money. |