a., adv. and sb. Forms: 5–7 extream(e, (6 extreeme), 5– extreme. [a. OF. extreme (F. extrême), ad. L. extrēmus, superl. of exterus outward (see EXTERIOR).
The L. extrēmus, like Eng. utmost, is scarcely to be found used in its strictly literal sense of ‘outermost’; the ordinary senses are ‘endmost,’ ‘farthest,’ ‘last’; and, with loss of the distinctively superlative signification, ‘very far advanced,’ ‘excessive in degree.’ In late L. the adj. was treated as a positive, with compar. and superl. degrees extrēmior, extrēmissimus. In Eng. extremer, extremest, and more freq. more, most extreme, are occasionally used, and (although condemned by Johnson) are justifiable on the ground that the adj. is not always equivalent to a superlative. In some instances the superlative form may be really pleonastic as in chiefest.]
1. Outermost, farthest from the center (of any area); endmost, situated at either of the ends (of a line, series or scale: opposed to mean). Extreme parts (of the body): the ‘extremities,’ hands, feet, fingers, toes, etc. (obs. or arch.).
1503. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 24. Chichester is in the extream Part of the … Shire.
1557. Recorde, Whetst., D iij. Beginnyng with the two extremeste [nombers] that is .2. and .30. thei will by multiplicacion make .60.
1683. Salmon, Doron Med., I. 32. [Hermodacts] purges Flegm by stool from the extream parts.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIII. 281. The fruitful continent’s extreamest bound.
1748. F. Smith, Voy. Disc. N.-W. Pass., I. 165. The principal Care required being as to the extreme Parts, as to the Feet and Legs, Arms and Hands.
1831. Brewster, Optics, x. 89. Dr. Herschel was desirous of ascertaining the refrangibility of the extreme invisible ray which possessed the power of heating.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 72. These two extreme points of his province … Hereford on the West and Norwich on the East.
b. Math. Extreme and mean ratio (or † proportion): = Gr. ὰκρὸς καὶ μέσος λόγος (see quots.).
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, 153 b. A right line is sayd to be deuided by an extreme and meane proportion, when the whole is to the greater part, as the greater part is to the lesse.
1827. Hutton, Course Math., I. 370. Let A B be the given line to be divided in extreme and mean ratio.
c. Bellringing. Extreme bells, change: (see quots.).
1671. Tintinnalogia, 8. On four Bells, there are Twenty four several Changes, in Ringing of which, there is one Bell called the Hunt, and the other three are Extream Bells.
1677. F. S[teadman], Campanalogia, 55. The extream changes may be made two ways, viz. either betwixt the two farthest extream bells from the hunt, or else betwixt the two nearest extream bells to it.
2. Farthest, or very far advanced in any direction; utmost, uttermost.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 42. The hairie foole … Stood on th’ extremest verge of the swift brooke.
1705. Addison, Italy, 250. Miseno’s Cape, and Bauli last he view’d, That on the Sea’s extreamest Borders stood.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. p. vi. Colonies of the same people are to be found in the most extream parts of the east.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 92. From th’ extremest point Of elevation down into th’ abyss.
1860. B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life, II. v. 273. The extreme point supposed to have been reached.
1882. Proctor, Fam. Science Studies, 2. The extremest possible range of telescopic vision fell short.
3. Last, latest. Obs. or arch., exc. in Extreme unction, in the Roman Catholic Church, ‘a sacrament in which the sick in danger of death are anointed by a priest for the health of soul and body, the anointing being accompanied by a set form of words’ (Catholic Dict., 1885).
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 83 b. The extreme draughtes of deth.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 3010. The extreme day.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 34. The daie of extreme jugement.
1579. Fulke, Refut. Rastel, 795. Other writers, ascribe the institution of this extreame unction to Felix the fourth.
1669. Penn, No Cross, viii. § 8. The extream Moments of Life.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, vi. Thy extreme hope, the loveliest and the last.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, i. 17. Those who upon a dying bed receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
4. Going to great lengths; opposed to moderate.
a. Of a quality, condition or feeling: Existing in the utmost possible degree, or in an exceedingly high degree; exceedingly great or intense.
The phrase extreme old age is apprehended as belonging to this sense, though in the original L. extrema senectus the adj. has the sense 3.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 22. Lyvyn in the most extreme Povertie and Myserye.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 205 b. The moost extreme paynes.
1550. Coverdale, Spir. Perle, xii. He himself lieth not in any such extreme necessity.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 95. Winter colds, and … the parching Sunne … which in their seasons are there extreame.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethicks, ix. 125. It is the extremest Madness in the VVorld to abuse your Power, and to neglect his Treasures.
1710. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. 348. Having an extream desire to be a Bp.
1726. Chetwood, Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 345. With the Day Reflection return’d, sharpen’d with the extreamest Hunger.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxiii. Their surprise at his escape was therefore extreme.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, x. § 1 (1869), 388. The extremest degree of guilt.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 66. He knew that he was in extreme peril.
b. Of a case, circumstance, supposition: Presenting in the utmost degree some particular characteristic.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. § 9. 16. Cases of necessitie being sometime but vrgent, sometime extreme.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 24. The nature of anything is best known from the examination of extreme cases.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. III. lx. 427. Party loyalty [is] strong enough … in all but extreme cases.
c. Of actions, measures, etc.: Severe or violent in the utmost degree, or in an exceedingly great degree; stringent.
1512. Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 20. Pream., Theire adherentes made extreme resistens.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxii. 256. The doloures wepynges & teeres that they made were so extreme.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, III. in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 297. Neither kindness nor extreme handling can Make him to know me.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. v. 54. To kill, I grant, is sinnes extreemest Gust.
1614. Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 974–5. Moderate exercise strengthens, extreame destroyes nature.
1685. Dryden, Threnodia August., v. 9. Th’ extreamest ways they first ordain.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. vii. 130. Having been driven to so extreme a measure against his will.
1888. Anna K. Green, Behind Closed Doors, ii. We never anticipated her taking any such extreme action as this.
d. Of opinions, fashions, etc.: Going to the utmost extent; exceeding the limits of moderation.
1876. J. Saunders, Lion in Path, xi. A lady, dressed in the extremest fashion of the time.
1878. Morley, Carlyle, Crit. Misc. Ser. I. 200. Holding one or other of the rival creeds in its most extreme, exclusive, and intolerant form?
e. Of persons: Going to great lengths in any action, habit, disposition or opinion; very ‘pronounced.’ In early use often: † Strict, severe, harsh. Now chiefly with reference to opinions.
a. 1533. Frith, Disput. Purgat. (1829), 154. The extreme enemies of God.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), N vj. He shewed hymselfe as bolde in wordes, as extreme and base in his array.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cxxix. 3. Yf thou (Lorde) wilt be extreme to marcke what is done amysse.
1594. West, Symbol., II. Chancerie § 139. A. B. accompted of him as of a verie extreame man.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. iv. 11. Be not as extreme in submission, as in offence.
1602. Life T. Cromwell, V. v. 127. Gardiner’s the cause makes Cromwell so extreme.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 197. The greatest part are Heathens and extreme Idolaters.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 380. In conversation frivolous, in dress Extreme.
1860. Hook, Lives Abps. (1869), I. i. 2. A Master who is not extreme to mark what is done amiss.
1889. Spectator, 28 Dec., 917/1. There will be a natural tendency in men who have this note of distinction to be … what is called ‘extreme’ men.
† f. Of material agents, influences, etc.: Effective in the utmost degree; exceedingly intense or powerful in operation. Obs.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, liv. (1890), 212. Extreame contagion of dangerous sicknes.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., xvi. 252. Those two extreamer Winds from hurting it to let.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 104. Supping a delighted Cup of extreame poyson.
1748. F. Smith, Voy. Disc. N.-W. Pass., I. 158. The Wind … began to be extreme, or very intense.
5. Music. a. In sense 1, as extreme parts, the highest and lowest parts in part music. b. Extreme interval: = ‘augmented interval’; see AUGMENTED 2 b. c. Extreme key: a key other than those related keys into which it is usual to modulate. † d. Formerly said of a key having more than three sharps or flats (obs.).
1731. G. Keller, Rules for Playing Thorow-Bass, in W. Holder, Harmony, 164. The extream Sharp second is the same distance as the Flat third. Ibid., 191. The extream Sharp 2d. and 4th. generally prepares a Cadence. The 5th. and 7th. and the Flat 5th. and extream Flat 7th. are generally the fore runners of a Cadence.
1876. Stainer & Barrett, Mus. Terms, Chord of the extreme sixth, a chord of modern growth so called because the interval of an extreme or augmented sixth is contained in it, either directly or by inversion.
1880. Parry, in Grove, Dict. Mus., s.v. Interval, The interval of the augmented sixth is indifferently called ‘superfluous’ or ‘extreme sharp’ sixth; and the same terms are applied to the fifth.
† B. adv. In an extreme degree; = EXTREMELY 2; formerly frequent with adjs., occasional with advbs., rare with vbs. Obs.
1593. H. Smith, God’s Arrowe, B ij. Except they be extreame vnthankeful and dissolute.
1594. H. Willobie, in Shaks. C. Praise, 9. The smothered flame, too closely pent, Burnes more extreame for want of vent.
1636. Earl Strafforde, Lett. & Disp. (1739), II. 22. My Lord Marshal writes extream doubtfully of his Success with the Emperor.
1710. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 53. You have done extreme well in speaking to the Vice-Chancellor.
1796. Burney, Mem. Metastasio, II. 5. In the empty and extreme cold theatre.
1816. Keatinge, Trav. (1817), I. 270. The articles … are very few of them of an extreme costly description.
C. sb.
1. quasi-sb. The adj. used absol.; only in phrases, In (the) extreme: in an extreme degree, extremely. † To be in extreme: to be at the extreme stage of some state or condition.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 347. Of one … Perplex’d in the extreme.
a. 1711. Ken, Sion, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 390. Fond Love … Is ever in Extreme.
1780. Cowper, Lett., 8 May. I am delighted … in the extreme.
1790. Norman & Bertha, I. 67. Elevated, but not in extreme, by their bacchanalian offering [etc.].
1823. in W. Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1885), I. 321. The labourers’ houses … beggarly in the extreme.
1847. Grote, Greece, II. xlv. (1862), IV. 69. This dismissal, ungracious in the extreme … excited … exasperation.
† 2. sb. The utmost point or verge; that which terminates a body; an end, extremity. Obs.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, I. Def. iv. 2. A right lyne is that, whose extremes abiding, cannot be altered.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 749. Most of the hard substances fly to the extreams of the Body.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., vi. 58. The open extream [of the pipe].
1748. F. Smith, Voy. Disc. N.-W. Pass., I. 28. Their Paddle being double bladed … and the Blades one at each Extreme.
1802. Playfair, Illustr. Hutton. Th., 304. Plumbago is the extreme of a gradation of which fossil coal is the beginning.
1808. J. Barlow, Columb., I. 573. Far in his vast extremes he swells and thaws.
† b. In (the, his) extremes: in the last moments or stage of life. Obs.; = L. in extremis (which is now often used).
1546. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. (1551), C viij b. As he laye in extremes.
1558. Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., xxx. 193. Sendynge for theym [Priestes] in the extremes when they can doo them least good.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., IX. iii. (1614), 833. In his extremes he vttered these things to his Confessor.
[1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 286. A person apparently in extremis, under a fit of the apoplexy.
1820. Scott, Monast., I. Answ. Introd. Ep. 74, note. Having sent for a Cameronian clergyman when he was in extremis.]
3. That which occupies a place at either end of anything; one of two things removed as far as possible from each other, in position, nature or condition. Also in proverb: Extremes meet.
1555. Eden, Decades, 175 b. Not accomptynge the extremes.
1605. Shaks., Lear, V. ii. 198. Two extremes of passion, ioy and greefe.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xxv. (1700), 268. But the other Extream that we likewise avoid, is that of sinking the Sacraments so low, as to be meer Rites and Ceremonies.
1721. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 17. As the English were very much out of favour … so the Scots were on the other extreme with the French.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 251. The intermediate space between those extremes.
1816. Byron, Parisina, xiv. Now in laughter, now in tears, But madly still in each extreme.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., I. xv. 360. Extremes meet … the most furious anarchists have since become the most barefaced apostates.
b. Logic. Each of the extreme terms in a proposition or a syllogism; in a proposition the subject or predicate, as distinguished from the copula; in a syllogism, the major or minor term as distinguished from the middle.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 258. If the last extreame be affirmed of the middle terme, and the middle terme of the first extreame.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 182/1. Extreams are the parts of a Proposition.
1837–8. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xvi. (1866), I. 295. The Major and Minor Terms [of a syllogism] are called Extremes.
1849. Hoblyn, Dict. Sci. Terms, Extremes. In Logic, the subject and predicate of a proposition are called its extremes or terms.
c. Math. The first or last term of a ratio, series, or set of numbers. † Extremes conjunct and Extremes disjunct, terms formerly in use in Spherical Trigonometry (see quot. 1796), for which adjacent parts and opposite parts are now employed.
1571. Digges, Pantom., IV. Def. iv. T j b. When foure magnitudes are … in continual proportion, the first & the fourth are the extremes.
1616. Wright, trans. Napier’s Descr. Logarithmes, I. iii. 8. Of the Logarithmes of three proportionals, the double of the second, or middle one, is equall to the summe of the extremes.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Extremes conjunct.
1796. Hutton, Math. Dict., I. 463/1. Extremes Conjunct, and Extremes Disjunct, in Spherical Trigonometry, are the former the two circular parts that lie next the assumed middle part, and the latter are the two that lie remote from the middle part. Ibid. (1806), Course Math., I. 115. Subtract the less extreme from the greater.
1859. Barn. Smith, Arith. & Algebra (ed. 6), 432. The terms a and d are called the Extremes.
d. Music. The extremes of an interval: the two sounds most distant from each other.
e. Bell-ringing: = ‘extreme change’: see A. 1 c.
1684. R. H., School Recreat., 152. You may make your Extreme at the first, second, or third single Bob.
1702. J. D. & C. M., Campanalogia Improved, 19–20. An Extream is then made, by the two farthest Extream Bells from the Half-hunt.
4. The utmost imaginable or tolerable degree of anything; a very high degree. Also in phrases In, to an, the extreme; in extremes (cf. 1).
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. ii. 115. By so much is the Wonder in extremes.
a. 1631. Capt. Smith, True Trav., II. 47. Here the Proverbe is true that no extreame long continueth.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 386. Avoid extreams; and shun the fault of such Who still are pleas’d too little, or too much. Ibid. (1725), Iliad, I. Ess. Homer, I. ii. Nor do they [men] equally … bear that human Nature … Should be prais’d in an Extream without opposition.
1777. Burke, Let. Sheriffs Bristol, Wks. III. 185. The extreme of liberty … obtains no where.
1791. J. Lackington, Mem. (1792), 228. She was enthusiastical to an extreme.
1846. Pope’s Jrnl. Trade, 109. A climate subject to great extremes.
1846. Greener, Sc. Gunnery, 117. Twisted … to such an extreme as to resemble the threads of a very fine screw.
1858. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Pers. Poetry, Wks. (Bohn), II. 237. Life in the East is fierce, short, hazardous, and in extremes.
1883. F. M. Crawford, Dr. Claudius, ii. He was … dressed in the extreme of the English fashion.
† b. pl. Extremities, straits, hardships. Obs.
1546–7. Paget, Lett., 2 March, in Tytler, Edw. VI. (1839), I. 24. I neuer loued extreams.
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, I. i. 196. Lighten our Extremes with this one boon.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 25. The Sea-men fell into great extreames.
1667. Dryden, Ind. Emperor, IV. ii. What now remains in these Extreams?
5. An excessive degree; a ‘very great length,’ in phrases to † break, carry, run to an extreme; also, something carried to excess, an extreme measure, a desperate step.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., III. i. 216. Do not breake into these deepe extreames.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (ed. 2), 26 b. if I prooue Playes to be no extreame.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 6. My gracious Lord, To chide at your extreames, it not becomes me.
1752. Young, Brothers, IV. i. On what Extremes extreme distress impels me?
1789. Belsham, Ess., I. xii. 217–8. This would be running into a very absurd extreme.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 329. The antiphlogistic regimen, carried into extremes … have been the causes.
1867. Mrs. H. Wood, Life’s Secret, II. 11. I never thought the masters would go to the extreme of a lock-out.
