limit
UK: ˈlɪmɪt | US: ˈlɪmɪt
n. a point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass
vt. to set or serve as a boundary or restriction
limit = lim<boundary> + it<noun suffix>
- lim (from Latin limes, meaning "boundary" or "threshold")
- it (a noun-forming suffix in Latin, often used to denote abstract concepts)
Etymology Origin:
The word "limit" traces back to Latin limes, which referred to a physical boundary (e.g., a path or frontier). Over time, it evolved into Old French limite, retaining the sense of a dividing line. By the 14th century, English adopted it to describe both physical and abstract boundaries, reflecting its dual role as a noun ("a restriction") and verb ("to restrict"). The morpheme lim- preserves the core idea of demarcation, while -it solidifies its grammatical function.
The speed limit on this road is 60 km/h.
We must limit our spending to stay within budget.
Her patience has its limits.
The study explores the limits of human endurance.
The software imposes no limits on file size.