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]