protract

/prō-ˈtrakt/

borrowed from Latin prōtractus, past participle of prōtrahere "to drag forward, draw or pull out, bring into the open, prolong, defer," from prō-, prefix denoting forward movement + trahere "to drag, draw, take along"

verb

  1. to prolong in time or space : continue

  2. to extend forward or outward

  3. delay, defer

extend lengthen prolong protract mean to draw out or add to so as to increase in length. extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range. prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.