1550s, past participle adjective from limit (v.); as a stand-alone for limited express train, by 1883. Limited edition is from 1920; limited monarchy from 1640s; limited war is from 1948. In British company names, Limited (abbrev. Ltd.), 1855, is short for limited liability company, one in which the liability of partners is limited, usually to the amount of their capital investment.
c.1400, "boundary, frontier," from Old French limite "a boundary," from Latin limitem (nominative limes) "a boundary, limit, border, embankment between fields," related to limen "threshold." Originally of territory; general sense from early 15c. Colloquial sense of "the very extreme, the greatest degree imaginable" is from 1904.
limit lim·it (lĭm'ĭt)
n.
The point, edge, or line beyond which something cannot or may not proceed.
A confining or restricting object, agent, or influence.
The greatest or least amount, number, or extent allowed or possible.
To confine or restrict within a boundary or bounds.
To fix definitely; to specify.