extensive
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Frequently applied in a slang sense to a person’s appearance or talk; "rather EXTENSIVE that!" intimating that the person alluded to is showing off, or "cutting it fat."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “extensive” mean?
Frequently applied in a slang sense to a person’s appearance or talk; "rather EXTENSIVE that!" intimating that the person alluded to is showing off, or "cutting it fat."
Is “extensive” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.