Infinite, a.
Etymology: [L. infinitus: cf. F. infini. See In- not, and Finite.]
1. Unlimited or boundless, in time or space; as, infinite duration or distance. Whatever is finite, as finite, will admit of no comparative relation with infinity; for whatever is less than infinite is still infinitely distant from infinity; and lower than infinite distance the lowest or least can not sink. H. Brooke.
2. Without limit in power, capacity, knowledge, or excellence; boundless; immeasurably or inconceivably great; perfect; as, the infinite wisdom and goodness of God; -- opposed to finite. Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite. Ps. cxlvii. 5. O God, how infinite thou art! I. Watts.
3. Indefinitely large or extensive; great; vast; immense; gigantic; prodigious. Infinite riches in a little room. Marlowe. Which infinite calamity shall cause To human life. Milton.
4. (Math.)
4 more senses
Greater than any assignable quantity of the same kind; -- said of certain quantities.
5. (Mus.)
Capable of endless repetition; -- said of certain forms of the canon, called also perpetual fugues, so constructed that their ends lead to their beginnings, and the performance may be incessantly repeated. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
Syn. -- Boundless; immeasurable; illimitable; interminable; limitless; unlimited; endless; eternal.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Infinite, n.
1. That which is infinite; boundless space or duration; infinity; boundlessness. Not till the weight is heaved from off the air, and the thunders roll down the horizon, will the serene light of God flow upon us, and the blue infinite embrace us again. J. Martineau.
2. (Math.)
An infinite quantity or magnitude.
3. An infinity; an incalculable or very great number. Glittering chains, embroidered richly o'er With infinite of pearls and finest gold. Fanshawe.
4. The Infinite Being; God; the Almighty.
Shades of meaning
Infinite (L. in, not, and finis, limit) signifies without bounds or limits in any way, and may be applied to space, time, quantity, or number. Countless, innumerable, and numberless, which should be the same as infinite, are in common usage vaguely employed to denote what it is difficult or practically impossible to count or number, tho perhaps falling far short of infinite; as, countless leaves, the countless sands on the seashore, numberless battles, innumerable delays. So, too, boundless, illimitable, limitless, measureless, and unlimited are loosely used in reference to what has no apparent or readily determinable limits in space or time; as, we speak of the boundless ocean. Infinite space is without bounds, not only in fact, but in thought; infinite time is truly eternal. Compare synonyms for eternal.