single word requests - Opposite of "infinitesimal"


What is the opposite of "infinitesimal"?


Infinitesimal means a value smaller than the minimum possible measurement. For example, if we have a ruler with 1 centimeter intervals, then any length measured shorter than 1 cm is infinitesimal for that measuring instrument - smaller than the smallest possible measurement, but still greater than zero.


The opposite of infinitesimal means a value larger than the maximum possible measurement. Analogously, if we have a 100 centimeter ruler, then any length measured longer than 100 cm is that opposite term.


"Infinite" is not the opposite of infinitesimal, although that term is commonly (mis)used. Infinity is an abstract concept for something that never ends, not merely a value above measuring capability. For example, the question "how long is this road?" may have the answer "the opposite of infinitesimal" if we lack the capacity to travel along a straight road in its entirety and measure its length. On the other hand, if the road is short enough to see in its entirety but loops in on itself, we could say that its length is "infinite".


A term I came up with for this is "supermaximum"; above the maximum possible measured value. I would like to know if an official term exists.



Answer



I believe that infinite is the opposite of infinitesimal.



Infinite : extending beyond, lying beyond, or being greater than any preassigned finite value however large


Infinitesimal : taking on values arbitrarily close to but greater than zero



So while infinitesimal talks about values arbitrarily smaller than any finite value but greater than zero, infinite talks about values that are arbitrarily larger than any finite value however large.


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