The word penultimate as a slang word seems to have worked its way into common parlance thanks to the slang use of the word ultimate. As a slang term, ultimate means cool rather than last. So the hipster logic may have concluded that if ultimate means cool, then penultimate must mean
super cool
.
When did penultimate become a word?
Penultimate came into English in
the 17th century
from the Latin word paenultimus, a combination of paene, meaning “almost,” and ultimus, meaning “last.” So if something’s penultimate, it’s “almost last”: more specifically, it’s next to last.
What is another word for penultimate?
| last but one next to last | one before the last second to last | second from last second last |
|---|
How do you use penultimate in a sentence?
- The author should have ended the series with the penultimate novel instead of closing out the hero’s tale with this poorly written story.
- As the penultimate host, Rick’s job was to announce the person who would close out the show.
Do Americans use penultimate?
Usage notes
While the Latinate
penultimate is predominant in written
works, the traditional English expressions for this idea were last but one and (less often) second last. Following the 1920s, American use has favored next to last to the point that last but one functions as a Britishism.
Is penultimate good or bad?
The Last Word on ‘Penultimate’
Many people use ‘penultimate’ to mean “the very last” or “
the very best
.” They’re wrong. … Used correctly, you can say “the penultimate scene of a play” or “the penultimate line of a poem” or “the film’s penultimate shot.” It’s a formal or literary way of saying “next to last.”
What is the word for sixth to last?
Penultimate
isn’t the last word in words for things that are next to last. There is a pair of noun synonyms that are used commonly enough to have gained entry into abridged dictionaries: penult and penultima.
Does penultimate mean second best?
“Penultimate” is not the best of the bunch or the last of something; it is
the second-best of the bunch
or second-to-the-last of something. Squiggly won the penultimate prize in the raffle.
What is another word for second best?
- inferior.
- next best.
- next to best.
- nothing special.
- second-rate.
What does penultimate year mean?
“the penultimate year” means
the last financial year before the company’s final year
.
What’s the opposite of penultimate?
Antonyms & Near Antonyms for penultimate.
eminent, premier, superior
.
What is the antonym of penultimate?
The word penultimate typically refers to the second from last in a series.
There are no categorical antonyms for this
word. However, one could loosely use second as an antonym.
What is after penultimate?
antepenultimate
Add to list Share. … Ultimate is the last or best, penultimate is the second to last, and finally antepenultimate is the third from last.
What is an example of penultimate?
The definition of penultimate is something that is second to last or right before the last item in a series. An example of penultimate is
the letter “Y” which
is the second to last letter in the alphabet.
How do you use penultimate year?
- Y is the penultimate letter of the alphabet.
- It’s the penultimate episode of the series tonight.
- November is the penultimate month of the year.
- It was the penultimate act before war.
- Beatification is the penultimate step before canonisation.
- His horse slipped and fell at the penultimate fence.
What is penultimate day?
The penultimate thing in a series is
the one before the last
. … on the penultimate day of the games. American English: penultimate /pɪˈnʌltɪmɪt/ Arabic: قبل اللأخير
