Extreme unction

Extreme unction
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. [1913 Webster]

2. Last; final; conclusive; -- said of time; as, the extreme hour of life. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions. [1913 Webster]

The Puritans or extreme Protestants. --Gladstone. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mus.) Extended or contracted as much as possible; -- said of intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat forth. [1913 Webster]

{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}. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Extreme Unction — • A sacrament to give spiritual aid and comfort and perfect spiritual health, including, if need be, the remission of sins, and also, conditionally, to restore bodily health, to Christians who are seriously ill Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Extreme unction — Unction Unc tion, n. [OE. unccioun, uncioun, OF. oncion, onction, F. onction, fr. L. unctio, fr. ungere, unctum, to anoint. See {Unguent}.] 1. The act of anointing, smearing, or rubbing with an unguent, oil, or ointment, especially for medical… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • extreme unction — ► NOUN ▪ (in the Roman Catholic Church) a former name for the sacrament of anointing of the sick, especially when administered to the dying …   English terms dictionary

  • Extreme Unction — [ek′strēm] n. ANOINTING OF THE SICK …   English World dictionary

  • extreme unction — noun a Catholic sacrament; a priest anoints a dying person with oil and prays for salvation • Syn: ↑anointing of the sick, ↑last rites • Hypernyms: ↑sacrament * * * exˌtreme ˈunction 7 [extreme unction] …   Useful english dictionary

  • extreme unction — n. to administer, give extreme unction (see the Usage Note for unction) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • extreme unction — Synonyms and related words: baptism, burial service, chrism, chrismal, chrismation, chrismatory, chrisom, confirmation, deathwatch, dirge, eulogy, exequies, funeral oration, funeral rites, holy orders, last duty, last honors, last offices, last… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • extreme unction — noun Date: 15th century a sacrament in which a priest anoints and prays for the recovery and salvation of a critically ill or injured person …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • extreme unction — /ek streem, ik streem /, Rom. Cath. Ch. See anointing of the sick. [1570 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • extreme unction — noun The catholic sacrament of Anointing of the Sick …   Wiktionary

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