(v. a.P. a.) : dis-tendo (and vulg. distenno), di, tum (in late Lat. also distensus, Coripp. Joann. 7, 324; but in Auct. B. Alex. 45, 2, the right reading is dispersis), 3, v. a.
* To stretch asunder, stretch out, extend (not freq. till after the Aug. per.; not in Cic.).
* Lit.: dispennite hominem divorsum et distennite,Plaut. Mil. 5, 14; cf.: Tityos novem Jugeribus distentus erat,Ov. M. 4, 458: brachia,id. ib. 4, 491: corpus temonibus,Col. 6, 19 fin.: aciem, * Caes. B. C. 3, 92, 2; cf.: copias hostium,Liv. 2, 23: hostes,id. 34, 29: sagum,Suet. Oth. 2: in currus distentum illigat Mettum,Liv. 1, 28; so, utramque manum in latus,Quint. 11, 3, 114: pontem in agros, Lue. 4, 140.—Pass. in mid. force: haec per octoginta sex milia distenduntur,extend,Mart. Cap. 6, § 661.
* Meton.
* Trop.: velut in duo pariter bella curas hominum,to divide,Liv. 27, 40; cf.: curam vilicae,Col. 12, 46, 1: sedulitatem vilici,id. 1, 6, 8: animos,to distract, perplex,Liv. 9, 12 fin.; Vulg. Eccl. 3, 10.— Hence, distentus, a, um, P. a. (acc. to I. B. 1.), distended, i. e. filled up, full: ubera,Hor. Epod. 2, 46; cf.: distentum cruribus uber,Ov. M. 13, 826: distentius uber,Hor. S. 1, 1, 110: distentus ac madens,stuffed full,Suet. Claud. 33; cf. Plin. Pan. 49, 6.
* (Causa pro effectu.) To torture by distention: tormento aliquem,Suet. Tib. 62; cf. Vulg. Heb. 11, 35.

s. TLL