stretchedadj.
/strɛtʃt/ 1. Extended to the full length, not bent or flexed. Of a limb: Thrust out from the body. Also with out, forth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > [adjective] > extended or stretched out
forth-straȝta1382
straight14..
streekingc1425
stented1513
stretched1518
outstretched1535
intended1590
out-stenta1598
exporrected1650
distended1834
the world > space > relative position > posture > action or fact of stretching body > [adjective]
stretched1518
diffused1671
effused1868
1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle (Roxb.) Q 1 He..ranne to hym with stratched armes and embraced hym.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxxxv. 12 With a mightie hande and a stretched out arme.
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) sig. Divv A pledge you did require..For which, with heart and stretched handes, most humble thankes I geue.
1656 R. Flecknoe Diarium 28 Now Chantecleer with stretcht~out wings, The glad approach of Phœbus sings.
1692 W. Hope Compl. Fencing-master (ed. 2) 148 Keep a streight point towards his face with a stretched arme.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 276 At length rebuff'd, they leave their mangled Prey, And their stretch'd Pinions to the Skies display.
1760 R. Lloyd Actor 97 The sudden whirl, stretch'd leg, and lifted staff, Which please the vulgar.
1846 R. C. Trench Notes Miracles xxxiii. 459 The stretched forth hands are the hands extended upon either side on the transverse bar of the cross.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess ii. 42 Jewels five-words-long That on the stretch'd forefinger of all Time Sparkle for ever.
1856 S. Warner Hills of Shatemuc vi He yielded his brother's [letter] again to her stretched-out hand.
2. Of the neck, throat: Extended or expanded unduly or abnormally. Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [adjective] > types of neck
stretched1558
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos vii. sig. V.iiij As swannes..With stretchid neckes, their melody they yelde.
1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida iii. i. sig. N3 The hollow, and ill boding Note, Sent from a fatal Ravens stretcht-out Throat.
1666 W. Spurstowe Spiritual Chymist 89 Gospel Mysteries, which Angells with stretched out necks have more desire to pry into, then ability perfectly to understand.
1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 380 The gosling pair, With awkward gait, stretch'd neck, and silly stare.
1845 R. Browning How they brought Good News in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics vi. 3 For one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees.
3.
a. Of material, a line, etc.: Extended, spread out, drawn out so as to be tight. Hence figurative of a receptacle: Strained in capacity, filled to the utmost.
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the world > space > extension in space > [adjective]
stent1513
stretchinga1547
distent1590
stretched?1605
distending1633
stretchen1642
extending1812
outreaching1853
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > [adjective] > distending > stretched
stretched?1605
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [adjective] > increasing in length > drawing out forcibly or tightly > drawn out forcibly or tightly
straightly1422
stented1513
reached1579
intended1590
stretched?1605
well-drawn1611
strained1640
distended1665
straightened1667
the world > space > place > presence > fact of taking up space > [adjective] > full > full to bursting
big?1541
with child1548
swelling1594
pent1597
bursten?1624
strutted1648
burstened1697
stretcheda1711
bursting1847
?1605 M. Drayton To Virginian Voy. in Poems sig. C4 Britans..quickly aboard bestowe you, And with a merry gale swell your stretch'd sayle.
a1711 R. Duke in Earl of Roscommon et al. Poems (1717) 329 [He] Swell'd his stretch'd Coffers with o'er-flowing Gold.
1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic viii. 193 If..we strew the sand over a stretched membrane, the sand will form itself into figures.
1840 in Newton's London Jrnl. Conjoined Ser. 16 361 When India rubber is introduced, it is in the stretched or non-elastic state.
1889 E. Brinsmead Hist. Pianoforte 40 The vibrations of stretched strings.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 28 July 6/3 You walk the stretched rope.
b. Of the senses: Tense.
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the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > tension > [adjective]
tautc1275
rigid?a1425
high-strung1653
wound-up1788
stretched1799
high-toned1804
overstrung1810
intense1817
tense1821
high-tuned1827
screwed-up1829
twittery1840
high-keyed1848
strung-up1853
strained1863
tensioned1872
twitchy1874
keyed-up1885
tensed1911
uptight1934
wired1970
1799 H. Lee Canterbury Tales III. 34 That profound stillness under which the stretched senses seem to ache.
4.
a. Of language, ideas, prerogative, etc.: Strained beyond natural or proper limits.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > [adjective] > going too far > carried too far
stretched1609
over-do1748
overdone1774
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xvii. sig. B4v So should..your true rights be termd a Poets rage, And stretched miter of an Antique song.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 71 If this answer seems harsh or stretched, we shall easily slacken and soften it by a clearer Instance.
a1711 T. Ken Psyche iii, in Wks. (1721) IV. 225 Say, if your stretch'd Imaginations find More horrid Monsters than foul human kind.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 95 They therefore take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative, and another time the wildest democratic ideas of freedom. View more context for this quotation
1833 C. Lamb Barrenness Imaginative Faculty in Last Ess. Elia 171 They satisfy our most stretched and craving conceptions of the glories of the antique world.
b. Of life: Drawn out beyond the normal period.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > protracting or drawing out > extended in duration
tracting1535
prolonged1557
long-drawn1592
spaciousa1593
lengthened1597
protracted1598
stretched1609
producted1628
continuated1632
extended1737
long-drawn-out1752
drawn-out1824
spun1869
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 60 And thou [Nestor] most reuerend..for the stretcht out life.
5. Of an aircraft, engine, etc.: increased in size or operating capacity; based on a smaller or less powerful design. Cf. stretch v. 21e.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > [adjective] > increased in size from smaller model
stretched1960
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > mechanically propelled vessels > [adjective] > utilizing air-cushion > types of hovercraft
stretched1960
surface effect1962
skirted1967
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > [adjective] > other qualities or attributes
bell-mouthed1797
reverse1839
throttled1850
reversible1852
steam-jacketed1876
multi-cylindera1884
multiple-cylinder1888
four-cycle1909
multi-cylindered1909
knockless1928
throttleable1951
multi-fuel1957
stretched1960
multi-fuelled1964
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > motor car > [adjective] > built with larger or smaller dimensions
stretched1960
stretch1971
downsized1975
upsized1977
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > means of propulsion > [adjective] > increased in power (of engine)
stretched1960
1960 New Scientist 30 June 1639/2 The Super-VC 10, which BOAC has just ordered off the drawing-board, is an example of a ‘stretched’ aeroplane.
1966 Wall St. Jrnl. 13 Jan. 1 Their orders of ‘stretched’ jets—conventional models expanded to carry more passengers—will also have to be carefully considered.
1967 Economist 8 July p. xxvi/3 Operators are suspicious of ‘stretched’ engines.
1972 Daily Tel. 26 Sept. 6/7 The car is a stretched version of the latest Daimler Double-Six, itself developed from the Jaguar XJ12.
1978 Daily Tel. 23 Feb. 6/8 Improvements in technology mean that the British Hovercraft Corporation's ‘stretched’ SRN-4 is likely to be used on some of the established 100–150 mile European routes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.1518