extreme
UK[ɪkˈstriːm]US[ɪkˈstriːm]
adj
very great in degree or intensity
adj
furthest from the center or a given point; outermost
n
either of two abstract things that are as different or far removed from each other as possible
n
the most extreme degree of something
Etymology
The word 'extreme' entered English in the late 15th century from the Latin 'extremus', the superlative form of 'exter' meaning "outer". 'Extremus' itself is built on the root 'exter' (situated on the outside) combined with the superlative suffix '-mus', thus literally meaning "outermost" or "utmost". This spatial sense of being at the farthest boundary evolved logically into the modern abstract meanings denoting the highest degree or the furthest limit of a quality, condition, or opinion. The journey from a concrete, locative descriptor in Latin to an intensifier expressing ultimate degree in English exemplifies a common path of semantic broadening.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form derived from a Latin root. It is not productively segmentable into meaningful substrings in modern English spelling.
Examples
She was living in extreme poverty.
The plant is found in the extreme north of the country.
He avoids extremes of emotion, preferring a calm demeanor.