limit

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French limite, from Latin limit-, limes boundary Date: 14th century 1. a. something that bounds, restrains, or confines b. the utmost extent 2. a. a geographic or political boundary b. plural the place enclosed within a boundary ; bounds 3. limitation 4. a determining feature or differentia in logic 5. a prescribed maximum or minimum amount, quantity, or number: as a. the maximum quantity of game or fish that may be taken legally in a specified period b. a maximum established for a gambling bet, raise, or payoff 6. a. a number whose numerical difference from a mathematical function is arbitrarily small for all values of the independent variables that are sufficiently close to but not equal to given prescribed numbers or that are sufficiently large positively or negatively b. a number that for an infinite sequence of numbers is such that ultimately each of the remaining terms of the sequence differs from this number by less than any given positive amount 7. something that is exasperating or intolerable • limitless adjective • limitlessly adverb • limitlessness noun II. transitive verb Date: 14th century 1. to assign certain limits to ; prescribe <

reserved the right to limit use of the land

> 2. a. to restrict the bounds or limits of <

the specialist can no longer limit himself to his specialty

> b. to curtail or reduce in quantity or extent <

we must limit the power of aggressors

> • limitable adjective • limiter noun Synonyms: limit, restrict, circumscribe, confine mean to set bounds for. limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go <

visits are limited to 30 minutes

>. restrict suggests a narrowing or tightening or restraining within or as if within an encircling boundary <

laws intended to restrict the freedom of the press

>. circumscribe stresses a restriction on all sides and by clearly defined boundaries <

the work of the investigating committee was carefully circumscribed

>. confine suggests severe restraint and a resulting cramping, fettering, or hampering <

our choices were confined by finances

>.