Infinities

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Infinity \In*fin"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Infinities}. [L. infinitas;
     pref. in- not + finis boundary, limit, end: cf. F.
     infinit['e]. See {Finite}.]
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     1. Unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity; eternity;
        boundlessness; immensity. --Sir T. More.


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              There can not be more infinities than one; for one
              of them would limit the other.        --Sir W.
                                                    Raleigh.
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     2. Unlimited capacity, energy, excellence, or knowledge; as,
        the infinity of God and his perfections. --Hooker.
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     3. Endless or indefinite number; great multitude; as an
        infinity of beauties. --Broome.
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     4. (Math.) A quantity greater than any assignable quantity of
        the same kind.
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     Note: Mathematically considered, infinity is always a limit
           of a variable quantity, resulting from a particular
           supposition made upon the varying element which enters
           it. --Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.).
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     5. (Geom.) That part of a line, or of a plane, or of space,
        which is infinitely distant. In modern geometry, parallel
        lines or planes are sometimes treated as lines or planes
        meeting at infinity.
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     {Circle at infinity}, an imaginary circle at infinity,
        through which, in geometry of three dimensions, every
        sphere is imagined to pass.
  
     {Circular points at infinity}. See under {Circular}.
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