The phrase "in extremis" is commonly used to describe a situation where one is close to death or extreme danger. The spelling of the phrase is in line with common Latin spelling conventions, where "in" is pronounced as "in" and "extremis" is pronounced as "eks-tre-mis" with stress on the second syllable. The "e" in "extremis" is pronounced as "eh" and the final "is" is pronounced as "eez." The phonetic transcription for the phrase is /ɪn ɪkˈstriːmɪs/.
In extremis is a Latin phrase that translates to "in the furthest or farthest reaches" in English. It is used to describe a state or situation that is extremely critical, dire, or desperate. When someone or something is considered to be in extremis, it usually implies that they are at the edge of death, facing imminent demise, or experiencing the most extreme conditions.
The term is commonly used in medical or legal contexts. In medicine, it refers to a critical condition of a patient, often when they are at the brink of death and emergency intervention is needed to save their life. It suggests that the situation is urgent and requires immediate attention.
In a legal setting, in extremis may refer to a legal defense used when someone acted in extreme circumstances that forced them to break the law. For instance, if someone commits a crime in order to protect themselves or others from harm, they may invoke the defense of "necessity in extremis" to argue that their actions were justified due to the severity of the situation.
Overall, "in extremis" emphasizes the extreme, life-or-death nature of a situation, underscoring the criticality and urgency of the circumstances at hand.
at the point of death
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "in extremis" is a Latin phrase that literally translates to "at the point of death" or "in the farthest reaches". Its etymology can be traced back to classical Latin.
The term is derived from the combination of two words: "in", meaning "in" or "at", and "extremis", the ablative plural form of the word "extremus". "Extremus" originates from the Latin word "exterus", which means "outer" or "farthest". It is related to the word "extra", also meaning "outside" or "beyond".
"In extremis" is commonly used in English and other languages to describe a situation in which someone is at the brink of death or facing extreme circumstances. It is often used in medical contexts or to indicate a dire and urgent situation.