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 ]

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 ]

v. i. To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region; as, a limiting friar. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being limited. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. limitaneus. See Limit, v. t. ] Of or pertaining to a limit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to limit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. limitaries 1. That which serves to limit; a boundary; border land. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A limiter. See Limiter, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. limitaris. See Limit , v. t. ] 1. Placed at the limit, as a guard. “Proud limitary cherub.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Confined within limits; limited in extent, authority, power, etc. “The limitary ocean.” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

The poor, limitary creature calling himself a man of the world. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Limiting, or tending to limit; restrictive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Doctrines limitary, if not subversive of the papal power. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. limitatus, p. p. of limitare to limit. See Limit, v. t. ] Bounded by a distinct line. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. limitatio: cf. F. limitation. See Limit, v. t. ] 1. The act of limiting; the state or condition of being limited; as, the limitation of his authority was approved by the council. [ 1913 Webster ]

They had no right to mistake the limitation . . . of their own faculties, for an inherent limitation of the possible modes of existence in the universe. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which limits; a restriction; a qualification; a restraining condition, defining circumstance, or qualifying conception; as, limitations of thought. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cause of error is ignorance what restraints and limitations all principles have in regard of the matter whereunto they are applicable. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A certain precinct within which friars were allowed to beg, or exercise their functions; also, the time during which they were permitted to exercise their functions in such a district. Chaucer. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A limited time within or during which something is to be done. [ 1913 Webster ]

You have stood your limitation, and the tribunes
Endue you with the people's voice. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) (a) A certain period limited by statute after which the claimant shall not enforce his claims by suit. (b) A settling of an estate or property by specific rules. (c) A restriction of power; as, a constitutional limitation. Wharton. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

To know one's own limitations, to know the reach and limits of one's abilities. A. R. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]