prō-tendo, di, sum and tum, 3, v. a., to stretch forth or out, to extend (not in Cic.; syn. porrigo).
I Lit.: hastas, Verg. A. 11, 606 Wagn.: bracchia in mare, Ov. M. 14, 191: supinas manus ad genua alicujus, Petr. 17 fin. : aciem (oculorum) in aestus pelagi, Cat. 64, 127: cervicem fortiter, Tac. A. 15, 67: cochleae bina ceu cornua protendentes contrahentesque, Plin. 9, 32, 51, § 101: protentis hastis, Tac. A. 14, 37: pedes temo protentus in octo, Verg. G. 1, 171: consanguineam protendere dextram, Sil. 1, 655: praerupta protendit juga Cithaeron, Sen. Phoen. 12.—Mid., to stretch forth or out , to extend : inter digitos medius longissime protenditur, projects , Plin. 11, 43, 99, § 244: protenditur ad Bactros usque gens Mardorum, reaches , extends , id. 6, 16, 18, § 47: anus haec in pellis periculum protenditur, is swelled out , distended with drink , Plaut. Fragm. ap. Schol. Hor. S. 1, 6, 22.—Of a river: usque ad colla cornipedum protentus, swollen , Sil. 16, 387.—
II Trop., to make long , to prolong , lengthen , extend (post-class.): utramvis partem in plura verba protendere, Ap. Dogm. Plat. 3, p. 267 Oud.: praepositiones producere atque protendere, to prolong in pronunciation , Gell. 2, 17, 1; 6: barbare protendere, id. 4, 17, 7.
III —Hence, prōtentus , a, um, P. a., stretched out , lengthened , extended (post-class.): Phocis lucis in exortum protentior, extending farther , Avien. Perieg. 597: protentior vita, Sol. 30.