An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Section S3

This space, considered barely in length between any two beings, without considering anything else between them, is called DISTANCE: if considered in length, breadth, and thickness, I think it may be called CAPACITY. When considered between the extremities of matter, which fills the capacity of space with something solid, tangible, and moveable, it is properly called EXTENSION. And so extension is an idea belonging to body only; but space may, as is evident, be considered without it. At least I think it most intelligible, and the best way to avoid confusion, if we use the word extension for an affection of matter or the distance of the extremities of particular solid bodies; and space in the more general signification, for distance, with or without solid matter possessing it.

L’Eſpace conſideré ſimplement par rapport à la longueur qui ſepare deux Corps ſans conſiderer aucune autre choſe entre-deux, s’appelle Diſtance. S’il eſt conſideré par rapport à la longueur, à la largeur & à la profondeur, on peut, à mon avis, le nommer capacité. Pour le terme d’Etenduë, on l’applique ordinairement à l’Eſpace de quelque maniére qu’on le conſidere.