distended, ppl. a.
(dɪˈstɛndɪd)
[f. prec. + -ed1.]
a. Spread out or extended in space; spread abroad; stretched. b. Dilated, expanded.
| 1597 Daniel Civ. Wars vi. xii, That mighty Familie, The faire distended stock of Neviles kind. 1665 Hooke Microgr. Pref. B ij b, I have, by the help of a distended wire, propagated the sound to a very considerable distance. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 483 The still distended Udders. 1795 Cowper Needless Alarm 43 The huntsman, with distended cheek, 'Gan make his instrument of music speak. 1834 West Ind. Sketch Bk. II. 109 The boat resembled a huge sea-bird..casting diamonds from its distended pinions. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 221 This enclosed in the distended envelope furnished by the ovule, is the pea. |
Hence diˈstendedly adv., in a distended or extended manner; extendedly.
| 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) II. xviii. 121 A pinch taken with a dainty finger and thumb, the other three fingers distendedly bent. |