'limited' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'limitare,' where 'limit-' meant 'boundary.' 'Spectrum' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'spectrum,' meaning 'appearance' or 'image.'

'limited' changed from the Old French word 'limiter' and eventually became the modern English word 'limited.' 'Spectrum' has remained largely unchanged from its Latin origins.

Initially, 'limited' meant 'confined within bounds,' and 'spectrum' meant 'appearance.' Over time, 'spectrum' evolved to include a range of different things, such as light or sound.