Artoomis
First Post
This is odd for the rules forum, but the word "Penultimate" has been discussed a number of times. So here is the real defintion - yes, it is misused someiotmes, but that does not change it's meaning (it might, eventually)...
Mirriam-Webster:
Main Entry: pen·ul·ti·mate
Pronunciation: pi-'n&l-t&-m&t
Function: adjective
1 : next to the last <the penultimate chapter of a book>
2 : of or relating to a penult <a penultimate accent>
Main Entry: pe·nult
Pronunciation: 'pE-"n<, pi-'
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin paenultima penult, from feminine of paenultimus almost last, from paene almost + ultimus last -- more at ULTIMATE
: the next to the last member of a series; especially : the next to the last syllable of a word
Main Entry: 1ul·ti·mate
Pronunciation: '&l-t&-m&t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin ultimatus last, final, from Late Latin, past participle of ultimare to come to an end, be last, from Latin ultimus farthest, last, final, superlative of Latin *ulter situated beyond
1 a : most remote in space or time : FARTHEST b : last in a progression or series : FINAL <their ultimate destination was Paris> c : EVENTUAL 2 <they hoped for ultimate success> d : the best or most extreme of its kind : UTMOST <the ultimate sacrifice>
2 : arrived at as the last result <the ultimate question>
3 a : BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL <the ultimate nature of things -- A. N. Whitehead> b : ORIGINAL 1 <the ultimate source> c : incapable of further analysis, division, or separation
synonym see LAST
- ul·ti·mate·ness noun
So we see it means next to the utlimate, in the sense that the ultimate is the last. But one can also see it as meaning second to the best only when the "best" is also the ultimate, which is not always the case, thus it is an error to use it meaning second to the best in general, but correct to use it as next to the utlimate (which could really be good or bad).
I'll leave it at that as I think I confused myself - a great time to quit!
Mirriam-Webster:
Main Entry: pen·ul·ti·mate
Pronunciation: pi-'n&l-t&-m&t
Function: adjective
1 : next to the last <the penultimate chapter of a book>
2 : of or relating to a penult <a penultimate accent>
Main Entry: pe·nult
Pronunciation: 'pE-"n<, pi-'
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin paenultima penult, from feminine of paenultimus almost last, from paene almost + ultimus last -- more at ULTIMATE
: the next to the last member of a series; especially : the next to the last syllable of a word
Main Entry: 1ul·ti·mate
Pronunciation: '&l-t&-m&t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin ultimatus last, final, from Late Latin, past participle of ultimare to come to an end, be last, from Latin ultimus farthest, last, final, superlative of Latin *ulter situated beyond
1 a : most remote in space or time : FARTHEST b : last in a progression or series : FINAL <their ultimate destination was Paris> c : EVENTUAL 2 <they hoped for ultimate success> d : the best or most extreme of its kind : UTMOST <the ultimate sacrifice>
2 : arrived at as the last result <the ultimate question>
3 a : BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL <the ultimate nature of things -- A. N. Whitehead> b : ORIGINAL 1 <the ultimate source> c : incapable of further analysis, division, or separation
synonym see LAST
- ul·ti·mate·ness noun
So we see it means next to the utlimate, in the sense that the ultimate is the last. But one can also see it as meaning second to the best only when the "best" is also the ultimate, which is not always the case, thus it is an error to use it meaning second to the best in general, but correct to use it as next to the utlimate (which could really be good or bad).
I'll leave it at that as I think I confused myself - a great time to quit!
