A limit in time, or to the duration of some action or condition; e.g., a limit to the length of speeches in parliament, etc.; also, a limit to the duration of a licence or privilege.
1872. Summit County (OH) Beacon, 7 Feb., 1/10. A time limit of twelve moves [in chess] to the hour will be enforced, the time gained on any moves to be applied on subsequent moves in the same game.
1880. Plumpre, in Dict. Chr. Biog., II. 192/2. He [Origen] taught the perpetual freedom of the will, and therefore set no time-limits to the capacity for restoration.
1891. Kipling, Light that Failed, x. 199. ‘What is my time-limit, avoiding all strain and worry?’ ‘Perhaps one year.’
1894. Westm. Gaz., 3 Jan., 1/2. The stronger … the case appears for … time-limit by Standing Orders. Ibid. (1899), 6 Feb., 2/2. Should this be effected, there will be a time-limit granted of from three to five years before any public-house is closed.
