extreme

a. [ L. extremus, superl. of exter, extrus, on the outside, outward: cf. F. extrême. 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 ]

☞ 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 ]