different between continual vs extensive

English

Alternative forms

• continuall (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English continuel, from Old French continuel, formed from Latin continuus (“continuous”) with the suffix -el.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?nju?l/, /k?n?t?nj?l/
• Hyphenation: con?tin?u?al, con?tin?ual

Adjective

continual (not comparable)

1. Recurring in steady, rapid succession.
2. (proscribed) Seemingly continuous; appearing to have no end or interruption.
3. (proscribed) Forming a continuous series.

Usage notes

In careful usage, continual refers to repeated actions “continual objections”, while continuous refers to uninterrupted actions or objects “continuous flow”, “played music continuously from dusk to dawn”. However, this distinction is not observed in informal usage, a noted example being the magic spell name “continual light” (unbroken light), in the game Dungeons & Dragons.

Related terms

• continuance
• continuation
• continue
• continuous
• continuum

Translations

References

Further reading

• continual in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• continual in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• inoculant

English

Etymology

From late Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin extens?vus, from Latin extensus.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?ks?t?n.s?v/

Adjective

extensive (comparative more extensive, superlative most extensive)

1. having a great extent; covering a large area; vast
2. (figuratively) considerable in amount.

   I have done extensive research on the subject.

3. Serving to extend or lengthen; characterized by extension
4. (physics) Having a combined system entropy that equals the sum of the entropies of the independent systems.

Derived terms

• extensive property

Related terms

• extend
• extense
• extent

Translations

See also

• intensive

French

Adjective

extensive

1. feminine singular of extensif

Latin

Adjective

ext?ns?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of ext?ns?vus