1. A 尽头的，末端的　at the end; farthest
2. A 极度的，极端的　existing in a very high degree; very severe

　～ accuracy　极大的准确性
　～ danger　极端危险
　～ illness　重病
　～ joy〔pain〕　极度的快乐〔痛苦〕
　～ measures　过激的手段
　～ opinions　持偏激的意见
　～ poverty　极度贫困
　rather ～　很极端

　She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.　她住在森林的最边缘。
　He sat on my extreme right.　他坐在我的最右端。
　The extreme penalty of the law in England used to be punishment by death.　在英国法律上死刑曾是极刑。
　He was an extreme right-winger.　他是一个极右分子。
　His views are rather extreme.　他的见解相当偏激。

 ♣ extreme, farthest, furthest
　这三个词的共同意思是“最远的”。farthest只指实义的距离，而furthest既可指实义距离，也可指抽象距离；extreme既可指实义的距离，也可指抽象的距离，往往表示一种不明智的超越或严重背离准则的极端。

P 极端，过分highest degree; opposite qualities

　extreme　用作名词时意为“极端”，是可数名词，常用复数形式。既可指感情、状况等的极端，也可指人能忍受某环境达到的最大限度。

　avoid ～s　避免走极端
　run to ～s　走极端
　unpleasant ～　不愉快的极端措施
　at an ～　在某一极端
　in the ～　极端，非常
　difficult in the ～　极其艰苦
　carry sth to ～s　把…引向极端
　～ of distress　极度痛苦
　～ of feelings　感情的极端
　～ of fortune　盛衰荣枯

　Joy and grief are extremes.　喜与悲都是极端。
　I could not tolerate the extremes of cold in this country.　我无法忍受这个国家的严寒。

 ♣ go to extremes
　走极端　act or be forced to act in a way that is far from moderate or normal
　They often go to extremes in their views.　他们在看法上经常走极端。
 ♣ in the extreme
　to the highest degree; extremely　极其
　He has been generous in the extreme.　他极其慷慨。

　［同义词］ adj. excessive, supreme, terrific, utmost n. utmost
　［反义词］ adj. moderate, temperate n. initial
　［词源］拉丁语extremus（极端）