Acme
/ˈæk.mi/noun
The highest point, peak, or climax of something.
Did you know?In ancient Greek, akmē could mean the peak of life or even the critical turning point of a fever, so the word already carried a sense of danger and climax.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eḱ-
“to be sharp, pointed”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀκμή (akmḗ)
“the highest point, prime, or sharp edge”
Late Latin
Latin
acme
“the peak or summit”
16th Century
English
acme
“the highest point or culmination”
Modern English
English
acme
“the peak, best, or culminating point”