extremus Latin · revision 6931

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cato|origins=la ex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɛkˈstreː.mʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ekˈstrɛː.mus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''extrēmus''' (superlative, feminine extrēma, neuter extrēmum); first/second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the superlative of [[exter]] “outer”, with the suffix [[-ēmus]], from earlier *extrezmo-, from Proto-Italic *eksterisemos.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016) It developed like [[postrēmus]] and [[suprēmus]]; compare [[extimus]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of what is at the end or edge.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Terence; he dates Cato 234–149 BC and Terence 190–159 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant outermost, situated at the end or edge, the end or tip of something, as Caesar's Geneva, the furthest town of the Allobroges, and in Horace living at the world's end.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant hindmost, the rear of an army, as in Caesar.^(OLD 2012) Of time it meant last, the end of, immediately preceding, last remaining, finishing, and in Virgil ending life.^(OLD 2012) From Cicero it meant extreme in degree, exceedingly great, desperate, and stopping at nothing, and in Propertius lowest in importance.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein explains that ''extrēmus'' is the outermost part of a space, opposed to ''intimus'' and ''medius''.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant extreme, last, final, and the neuter as a noun the end or outermost part.^(Stelten 1995) [[en|extreme]] came through Old French in the early 15th century, first as “outermost, farthest”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the end or edge.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the rear and the furthest town.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the last and of the extreme.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''extreme'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Outermost, at the end or edge; the end of; uttermost.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Hindmost; the rear of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Last, final; the end of, ''extrēmō tempore'', finally.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Extreme]], exceedingly great; desperate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Lowest, least important.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[extrēmitās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[exter]]

+ * [[extimus]]

+ * [[ultimus]]

+ * [[suprēmus]]

+ * [[en|extreme]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}