res extensa

noun

In Cartesian ontology, corporeal substance, distinguished from the res cogitans from which the mind or soul is made.

Meanings

nounres extensa (uncountable)
  1. uncountableIn Cartesian ontology, corporeal substance, distinguished from the res cogitans from which the mind or soul is made.

Origin

  1. Latinrēs extēnsa
  2. Englishres extensa

From Latin rēs extēnsa.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

res extensa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/res%20extensa

MLA

“res extensa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/res%20extensa. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “res extensa,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/res%20extensa.

Source: res extensa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.