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Origin and history of extreme

extreme(adj.)

early 15c., "outermost, farthest;" also "utter, total, in greatest degree" (opposed to moderate), from Old French extreme (13c.), from Latin extremus "outermost, utmost, farthest, last; the last part; extremity, boundary; highest or greatest degree," superlative of exterus (see exterior). In English as in Latin, not always felt as a superlative, hence more extreme, most extreme (which were condemned by Johnson). Extreme unction preserves the otherwise extinct sense of "last, latest" (15c.).

extreme(n.)

1540s, "utmost point of a thing," from extreme (adj.); originally of the end of life (compare Latin in extremis in reference to the "last stages of life"). Phrase in the extreme "in an extreme degree" attested from c. 1600. Hence extremes "extremities, opposite ends of anything" (1550s); also "extreme measures" (1709).

also from 1540s

Entries linking to extreme

exterior(adj.)

"situated or being outside, pertaining to or connected with that which is outside," 1520s, from Latin exterior "outward, outer, exterior," comparative of exterus "on the outside, outward, outer, of another country, foreign," itself a comparative of ex "out of" (see ex-). As a noun, "outer surface or aspect" from 1590s.

extremely(adv.)

1530s, from extreme + -ly (2). Originally "with great severity," later more loosely, "in extreme degree" (1570s).

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extremity
late 14c., "one of two things at the extreme ends of a scale," from Old French estremite (13c.), from Latin extremitatem (nominative extremitas) "the end of a thing," from extremus "outermost;" see extreme (adj.), the etymological sense of which is better preserved in this word.
intransigent
1874, "uncompromising, refusing to agree or come to understanding," (used of extreme political factions or parties), from...French intransigeant (18c.), from Spanish los intransigentes, literally "those not coming to agreement," name for extreme...left in the Spanish Cortes and the extreme republicans of the 1870s, from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + transigente "compromising...
bolero
kind of Spanish dance in 3/4 time, "intended to represent the course of love from extreme shyness to extreme passion" [Century...
montagnard
In French history, one of the extreme democratic party in the legislatures of the Revolution, supposedly so called because...they occupied the highest benches in the National Assembly; hence in later use applied to any French radical or extreme...
drastic
Sense of "extreme, severe, acting with force or violence" is recorded by 1808. Related: Drastically....
detestation
"extreme dislike, hatred, abhorrence, loathing," early 15c., detestacioun, from Old French detestation (14c.) and directly...
frugality
It is constantly, of course, associated with avarice ; but quite as frequently with generosity, and is often merely an extreme...
acme
"highest point," 1560s, from Greek akmē "(highest) point, edge; peak of anything," hence "prime (of life, etc.), the best time" (from PIE *ak-ma-, suffixed form of root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce"). In English it was written in Greek letters until c. 1620. The
mace
"heavy one-handed metal weapon, often with a spiked head, for striking," c. 1300, from Old French mace "a club, scepter" (Modern French massue), from Vulgar Latin *mattea (source also of Italian mazza, Spanish maza "mace"), from Latin mateola (in Late Latin also matteola) "a kind
degree
c. 1200, "a step, a stair," also "a position in a hierarchy," and "a stage of progress, a single movement toward an end," from Old French degré (12c.) "a step (of a stair), pace, degree (of relationship), academic degree; rank, status, position," which is said to be from Vulgar L

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