3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Extreme  \Ex*treme"\,  n. 
  1.  The  utmost  point  or  verge;  that  part  which  terminates  a 
  body;  extremity. 
 
  2.  Utmost  limit  or  degree  that  is  supposable  or  tolerable; 
  hence  furthest  degree;  any  undue  departure  from  the  mean 
  --  often  in  the  plural:  things  at  an  extreme  distance  from 
  each  other  the  most  widely  different  states,  etc.;  as 
  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  of  virtue  and  vice;  extremes 
  meet 
 
  His  parsimony  went  to  the  extreme  of  meanness. 
  --Bancroft. 
 
  3.  An  extreme  state  or  condition;  hence  calamity,  danger, 
  distress,  etc  ``Resolute  in  most  extremes.''  --Shak. 
 
  4.  (Logic)  Either  of  the  extreme  terms  of  a  syllogism,  the 
  middle  term  being  interposed  between  them 
 
  5.  (Math.)  The  first  or  the  last  term  of  a  proportion  or 
  series. 
 
  {In  the  extreme}  as  much  as  possible.  ``The  position  of  the 
  Port  was  difficult  in  the  extreme.''  --J.  P.  Peters. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Extreme  \Ex*treme"\,  a.  [L.  extremus,  superl.  of  exter,  extrus, 
  on  the  outside,  outward:  cf  F.  extr[^e]me.  See  {Exterior}.] 
  1.  At  the  utmost  point,  edge,  or  border;  outermost;  utmost; 
  farthest;  most  remote;  at  the  widest  limit. 
 
  2.  Last  final;  conclusive;  --  said  of  time;  as  the  extreme 
  hour  of  life. 
 
  3.  The  best  of  worst;  most  urgent;  greatest;  highest; 
  immoderate;  excessive;  most  violent;  as  an  extreme  case; 
  extreme  folly.  ``The  extremest  remedy.''  --Dryden. 
  ``Extreme  rapidity.''  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
 
  Yet  extreme  gusts  will  blow  out  fire.  --Shak. 
 
  4.  Radical;  ultra;  as  extreme  opinions. 
 
  The  Puritans  or  extreme  Protestants.  --Gladstone. 
 
  5.  (Mus.)  Extended  or  contracted  as  much  as  possible;  --  said 
  of  intervals;  as  an  extreme  sharp  second  an  extreme  flat 
  forth. 
 
  {Extreme  and  mean  ratio}  (Geom.),  the  relation  of  a  line  and 
  its  segments  when  the  line  is  so  divided  that  the  whole  is 
  to  the  greater  segment  is  to  the  less 
 
  {Extreme  distance}.  (Paint.)  See  {Distance}.,  n.,  6. 
 
  {Extreme  unction}.  See  under  {Unction}. 
 
  Note:  Although  this  adjective,  being  superlative  in 
  signification,  is  not  properly  subject  to  comparison, 
  the  superlative  form  not  unfrequently  occurs, 
  especially  in  the  older  writers.  ``Tried  in  his 
  extremest  state.''  --Spenser.  ``Extremest  hardships.'' 
  --Sharp.  ``Extremest  of  evils.''  --Bacon.  ``Extremest 
  verge  of  the  swift  brook.''  --Shak.  ``The  sea's 
  extremest  borders.''  --Addison. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  extreme 
  adj  1:  of  the  greatest  possible  degree  or  extent  or  intensity; 
  "extreme  cold";  "extreme  caution";  "extreme  pleasure"; 
  "utmost  contempt";  "to  the  utmost  degree";  "in  the 
  uttermost  distress"  [syn:  {utmost(a)},  {uttermost(a)}] 
  2:  far  beyond  a  norm  in  quantity  or  amount  or  degree;  to  an 
  utmost  degree;  "an  extreme  example";  "extreme 
  temperatures";  "extreme  danger" 
  3:  beyond  a  norm  in  views  or  actions;  "an  extreme 
  conservative";  "an  extreme  liberal";  "extreme  views  on 
  integration";  "extreme  opinions" 
  4:  most  distant  in  any  direction;  "the  extreme  edge  of  town" 
  n  1:  the  furthest  or  highest  degree  of  something  "he  carried  it 
  to  extremes" 
  2:  the  point  located  farthest  from  the  middle  of  something 
  [syn:  {extreme  point},  {extremum}] 

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