RLIMIT_NOFILE
Specifies one greater than the maximum number of file descriptors that a process may hold open.
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I assume this is taken from a technical piece of writing, such as the documentation for a program, so I will start by saying that you will not run into sentences this convoluted elsewhere. In documentation, people often cut down on words in order to save space. A fuller version of this sentence might be:
RLIMIT_NOFILE is defined as one more than the maximum number of file descriptors that a process may hold open.
On to breaking down the meaning of the sentence.
the maximum number of file descriptors: A process can hold open a limited number of file descriptors. There is some maximum number (an upper bound).
one greater than the maximum number of file descriptors: As stated above, there is an upper bound to the number of file descriptors a process may hold open. "One greater" means "one more", so you are adding one to the upper bound.
Specifies one greater than the maximum number of file descriptors that a process may hold open.: The number RLIMIT_NOFILE gives (that is, specifies) the upper bound + 1 of file descriptors that a process can hold open.