elongation

n. [ LL. elongatio: cf. F. élongation. ] 1. The act of lengthening, or the state of being lengthened; protraction; extension. “Elongation of the fibers.” Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which lengthens out; continuation. [ 1913 Webster ]

May not the mountains of Westmoreland and Cumberland be considered as elongations of these two chains? Pinkerton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Removal to a distance; withdrawal; a being at a distance; distance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The distant points in the celestial expanse appear to the eye in so small a degree of elongation from one another, as bears no proportion to what is real. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Astron.) The angular distance of a planet from the sun; as, the elongation of Venus or Mercury. [ 1913 Webster ]