extenso

Extenso is a lexical item used in Romance languages, notably Portuguese and Spanish. As an adjective, it means long, extensive, or comprehensive, and it is used to describe texts, works, or explanations that are lengthy or thorough. Examples include texto extenso (a long text) and um relatório extenso (a detailed report). In Portuguese, the expression em extenso is used to mean “in full” or “verbatim” when quoting or presenting the entire content of a document.

Etymology and cognates: Extenso derives from Latin extensus, the past participle of extendere, meaning “stretched out.” It shares roots with related forms in other Romance languages, such as Portuguese estender (to extend) and the English word extend.

Usage and nuances: In both languages, extenso emphasizes size or scope rather than merely quality. It contrasts with concise or resumido forms. The term appears in formal and literary registers and often participates in noun phrases like texto extenso, explicación extensa, or análisis extenso, signaling breadth of content or detail.

Notable notes: Extenso is primarily a common adjective and is not typically used as a proper noun. There are no widely recognized institutions or concepts named Extenso in a general sense; context is usually linguistic rather than institutional.