Ultimate
/ˈʌl.tɪ.mət/noun
Being the last, final, or most extreme in a series.
Did you know?“Ultimate” comes from Latin *ultimus*, meaning “last,” which is the superlative of *ulter* (“farther”), so its deepest sense is not power — it’s reaching the furthest possible end.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*al-
“to grow, nourish; in a different branch, to go beyond/farther”
Latin
Latin
ultra
“beyond, farther”
Latin
Latin
ulter
“the farther one”
Latin
Latin
ultimus
“last, farthest, final”
Late Latin
Latin
ultimatus
“made final or last”
16th Century
English
ultimate
“last in a series; final”
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