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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Extreme, a., n., and adv. Also: extreyme, -eime, -eam(e. [Late ME. extreme (c 1460), e.m.E. extream(e, OF. extreme, L. extrēmus.]

1. adj. Attaining the utmost possible degree or intensity.(a) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 743.
The proces is sa inly penetratif Of all synnaris in to that stait extreme c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 33/22.
And thow se a persone in extreme necessite … thow may geve almos 1543 Reg. Cupar A. II. 25.
The said [persons] … sall fortefie and defend the liberte and commoun wele of this realme … at thair vtir extreme diligence and powar 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 252.
Gif you do nocht your extreme devoir thairin to bring the samyn to lycht a1570-86 Maitl. F. xcv. 22.
Thai landis … To extreme powertie ar brocht(b) 1567 G. Ball. 93.
Extreime puirteith, nor greit ryches, Thow gif me not a1578 Pitsc. I. 114/23.
He perswadit the Erle of Douglas to offer the king extreame battell 1596 Dalr. I. 97/20.
Thay ar brocht til extreime pouertie

2. Severe or rigorous in the highest degree. 1482 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 62.
Under the payne of pvnitioun extreme after the forme of the statutes maid thairvpoun c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 163.
Appeling fra thy justice court extreme Vnto thy court of mercy exvltyf 1535 Stewart 59787.
Exerceand justice oft with negligence, Quhilis extreme without ony clemens 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 221.
We marwell quhat alis the baillies to be sua extreme to ws 1596 Dalr. I. 122/4.
Lat thame baith die the maist extreime deith 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Machamium.
To suffer and vnderly that kinde of tryal that is maist severe and extreame

3. Uttermost; outmost. 1513 Doug. xii. xiii. 30.
For now is cum the extreme lattir punct Ib. xiv. 94.
The schaft … the extreme bordour gan arras Of his strang scheild

4. n. The uttermost point. Also pl., the last throes of death. 1533 Boece iii. xx. 120.
Gif in gude ordoure thai wald fecht to the extreme Ib. vi. ii. 188 b.
With ane daggare … he straik the king in the breist … Syne kest him in extremis of dede in the closet 15.. Clar. v. 1790.
If ane wight of death war in extreames, It sould him comfort

5. adv. Extremely. 1571 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 654/2.
I hawe beyne wery extreme seik a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 5.
He addrest himself to Glasgow, wher he became extreyme seik 1655 Logie Par. Hist. I. 105.
The exerciser sent ane lettre of excuse showing that he was extreame sick