étendus

Étendus is the masculine plural form of the French adjective étendu, meaning stretched, spread out, or extended. It is used to describe physical dimensions, such as surfaces, lands, or objects, as well as more abstract notions like scope or range. For example, on peut dire des terrains étendus or l’étendue des connaissances. The feminine singular étendue refers to the expanse or extent itself, while étendus can also appear as a past participle in passive constructions, as in les territoires ont été étendus.

Etymology and related forms: étendu comes from Old French etendre, from Latin extendere, meaning to stretch or extend. The related noun étendue (feminine) means expanse, breadth, or extent, and is commonly used in phrases about size, scope, or geographic reach.

Contexts and usage: In science and philosophy, étendu is used to distinguish a body with finite size from a point-like entity, as in corps étendu. In geography or literature, étendue often conveys a sense of vastness, as in l’étendue des déserts or les étendues sauvages. The word frequently collocates with terms expressing size, breadth, or geographical area.

Translation and nuance: étendu can be rendered as extended, stretched, or expansive depending on context, while étendue conveys the idea of extent or expanse. The choice between forms reflects whether the focus is on a property (extended) or on the measured size of an area (expanse).