Shak.
5. (Logic & Metaph.) A determining feature; a distinguishing
characteristic; a differentia.
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.
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.
Lim"it (lm"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.
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.
Lim"it, v. i. To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain
limited region; as, a limiting friar. [Obs.]
Lim"it*a*ble (-*b'l), a. Capable of being limited.
Lim`i*ta"ne*ous (lm`*t"n*s), a. [L. limitaneus. See Limit, v. t.] Of or
pertaining to a limit. [Obs.]
Lim`i*ta"ri*an (-r*an), a. Tending to limit.
Lim"i*ta*ry (lm"*t*r), a. [L. limitaris. See Limit , v. t.] 1. Placed
at the limit, as a guard. "Proud limitary cherub." Milton.
2. Confined within limits; limited in extent, authority, power, etc.
"The limitary ocean." Trench.
The poor, limitary creature calling himself a man of the world.
De Quincey.