Extreme and mean ratio

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.
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   2. Last; final; conclusive; -- said of time; as, the extreme
      hour of life.
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   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.
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            Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire. --Shak.
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   4. Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions.
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            The Puritans or extreme Protestants.  --Gladstone.
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   5. (Mus.) Extended or contracted as much as possible; -- said
      of intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat
      forth.
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   {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}.
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   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.
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