extensive

adj

Etymology: From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extensīvus, from Latin extensus.

1. Having a great extent; covering a large area; vast.

   “In the second century of the Christian era, the Empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilised portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valour.”

2. Considerable in amount.

   “I have done extensive research on the subject.”

3. Serving to extend or lengthen; characterized by extension.

   “For station is properly no rest, but one kind of motion, relating unto that which physicians (from Galen) do name extensive or tonical; that is, an extension of the muscles and organs of motion, maintaining the body at length, or in its proper figure.”

4. Having a combined system entropy that equals the sum of the entropies of the independent systems.

   “According to Tsallis (1988), the entropy was extensive for T = 1, superextensive for t < 1 and subextensive for t > 1.”