— extremeness , n.
/ik streem"/ , adj., extremer, extremest , n.
adj.
1. of a character or kind farthest removed from the ordinary or average: extreme measures.
2. utmost or exceedingly great in degree: extreme joy.
3. farthest from the center or middle; outermost; endmost: the extreme limits of a town.
4. farthest, utmost, or very far in any direction: an object at the extreme point of vision.
5. exceeding the bounds of moderation: extreme fashions.
6. going to the utmost or very great lengths in action, habit, opinion, etc.: an extreme conservative.
7. last or final: extreme hopes.
8. Chiefly Sports. extremely dangerous or difficult: extreme skiing.
n.
9. the utmost or highest degree, or a very high degree: cautious to an extreme.
10. one of two things as remote or different from each other as possible: the extremes of joy and grief.
11. the furthest or utmost length; an excessive length, beyond the ordinary or average: extremes in dress.
12. an extreme act, measure, condition, etc.: the extreme of poverty.
13. Math.
a. the first or the last term, as of a proportion or series.
b. a relative maximum or relative minimum value of a function in a given region.
14. Logic. the subject or the predicate of the conclusion of a syllogism; either of two terms that are separated in the premises and brought together in the conclusion.
15. Archaic. the utmost point, or extremity, of something.
[ 1425-75; late ME extremus, superl. of exterus outward. See EXTERIOR ]
Syn. 2. greatest, highest; superlative. 3. ultimate, last, uttermost, remotest. 6. extravagant, immoderate, excessive, fanatical, uncompromising, unreasonable. See radical .
Ant. 6. moderate.