limit

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
limit
    n 1: the greatest possible degree of something; "what he did was
         beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior"; "to the limit of
         his ability" [syn: {limit}, {bound}, {boundary}]
    2: final or latest limiting point [syn: {terminus ad quem},
       {terminal point}, {limit}]
    3: as far as something can go
    4: the boundary of a specific area [syn: {limit}, {demarcation},
       {demarcation line}]
    5: the mathematical value toward which a function goes as the
       independent variable approaches infinity [syn: {limit},
       {limit point}, {point of accumulation}]
    6: the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed;
       "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing
       rapidly with no limitation in sight" [syn: {limit},
       {limitation}]
    v 1: place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of
         this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your
         friends" [syn: {restrict}, {restrain}, {trammel}, {limit},
         {bound}, {confine}, {throttle}]
    2: restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a
       day" [syn: {limit}, {circumscribe}, {confine}]
    3: decide upon or fix definitely; "fix the variables"; "specify
       the parameters" [syn: {specify}, {set}, {determine},
       {define}, {fix}, {limit}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Limit \Lim"it\ (l[i^]m"[i^]t), n. [From L. limes, limitis: cf.
   F. limite; -or from E. limit, v. See {Limit}, v. t.]
   1. That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or
      confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent;
      as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the
      limits of human knowledge or endeavor.
      [1913 Webster]

            As eager of the chase, the maid
            Beyond the forest's verdant limits strayed. --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The space or thing defined by limits.
      [1913 Webster]

            The archdeacon hath divided it
            Into three limits very equally.       --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period
      itself; the full time or extent.
      [1913 Webster]

            The dateless limit of thy dear exile. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            The limit of your lives is out.       --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance.
      [1913 Webster]

            I prithee, give no limits to my tongue. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. (Logic & Metaph.) A determining feature; a distinguishing
      characteristic; a differentia.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Math.) A determinate quantity, to which a variable one
      continually approaches, and may differ from it by less
      than any given difference, but to which, under the law of
      variation, the variable can never become exactly
      equivalent.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Elastic limit}. See under {Elastic}.

   {Prison limits}, a definite, extent of space in or around a
      prison, within which a prisoner has liberty to go and
      come.

   Syn: Boundary; border; edge; termination; restriction; bound;
        confine.
        [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Limit \Lim"it\, v. i.
   To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited
   region; as, a limiting friar. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Limit \Lim"it\ (l[i^]m"[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Limited}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Limiting}.] [F. limiter, L. limitare, fr.
   limes, limitis, limit; prob. akin to limen threshold, E.
   eliminate; cf. L. limus sidelong.]
   To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate,
   circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as, to limit
   the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to
   limit one's ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of
   a word.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Limiting parallels} (Astron.), those parallels of latitude
      between which only an occultation of a star or planet by
      the moon, in a given case, can occur.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
253 Moby Thesaurus words for "limit":
      Thule, Ultima Thule, abate, accommodation, acme, adjust to, all,
      alter, apex, apogee, appoint, area, assign, assuage, bar, be into,
      be strong in, bitter end, border, border line, bottom dollar,
      bound, boundary, boundary condition, boundary line, bounds, bourn,
      box, box in, box up, break boundary, breakoff point, bridle, brim,
      brink, brow, burden, butt, butt end, cap, capacity, caution,
      ceiling, channel, check, circumscribe, circumscription, climax,
      cloud nine, compass, condition, confine, confinement, confines,
      constrict, contain, content, continence, contract, copyright,
      cordage, cramp, crest, crown, culmen, culmination, curb, cutoff,
      cutoff point, deadline, define, delimit, delimitate, delimitation,
      determinant, determine, diminish, discipline, district, divide,
      division line, draw in, draw the line, edge, enclose, end, enough,
      environs, extent, extreme, extreme limit, extremity, fag end,
      farthest bound, feature, finish, fix, floor, focus, follow,
      frontier, go in, go in for, guide, heaven, heavens, hedge,
      hedge about, height, hem, hem in, high noon, high-water mark,
      highest degree, highest pitch, highest point, hinder,
      hold in check, inhibit, interface, it, joke, jumping-off place,
      keep from spreading, keep within bounds, leaven, lessen, limen,
      limitation, limiting factor, limits, line, line of demarcation,
      localize, low-water mark, lower limit, major in, march, margin,
      mark, mark out, maximum, measure, meridian, mete, minor in,
      mitigate, moderate, moderation, modify, modulate, mountaintop,
      narrow, ne plus ultra, nib, no place higher, noon, nth degree,
      outrage, palliate, patent, peak, perimeter, periphery, pinch,
      pinnacle, pitch, point, pole, poundage, precincts, prescribe,
      prescription, proscription, purlieus, pursue, qualification,
      qualify, quantity, quarter, reduce, region, register, regulate by,
      restrain, restraint, restrict, restriction, ridge, rim, room,
      scant, season, separate, set, set conditions, set limits,
      seventh heaven, sky, snape, soften, space, specialize,
      specialize in, spire, stand, start, starting line, starting point,
      stint, stowage, straiten, stub, stump, summit, surprise, surround,
      tag, tag end, tail, tail end, taper, target date, temper, term,
      terminal date, termination, terminus, territory, the last straw,
      the limit, the whole, threshold, tighten, time allotment, tip,
      tip-top, tonnage, too much, top, upmost, upper extremity,
      upper limit, uppermost, utmost, utmost extent, uttermost, verge,
      vertex, very top, volume, zenith, zone

    

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