| 释义 |
ultimatum, n.|ʌltɪˈmeɪtəm|
Pl. -ata |-ˈeɪtə|.
[ad. late L. ultimātum, neut. sing. of ultimātus, pa. pple. of ultimāre: see ultimate v.1 So in F., It., Pg., G., Du., etc.]
1. In diplomacy, the final terms presented by one power (or group of powers) to another, the rejection of which may lead to the severing of diplomatic relations, and eventually to a declaration of war.
sing.1731Gentl. Mag. Jan. 39/1 There are privately handed about here Copies of the Ultimatum (or last Proposals) of the Allies of Seville, as transmitted hither from Paris. 1759Smollett Hist. Eng. viii. (ed. 3) IX. 143 He delivered to the mediator an ultimatum, importing, That he adhered to the treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen. 1784–5Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe 107/1 A new statement of the emperor's claims and demands, described as his ultimatum, was presented to the Dutch ministers. 1832tr. Sismondi's Ital. Rep. xiii. 287 Charles still insisted on disgraceful conditions, which his secretary read as his ultimatum. 1876Bancroft Hist. U.S. VI. lviii. 482 Fitzherbert.. reflected that peace with the United States would be the best means of forcing France and Spain to declare their ultimatum.
pl.1773Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe 40/2 The delegates were also appointed..to receive the ultimata of the three powers. 1796Hamilton Wks. (1886) VII. 121 In general, where more had been obtained by a treaty than the ultimata prescribed to the negotiator, it would be inexpedient to publish those ultimata. 1859L. Oliphant China & Japan I. 98 Mr. Wade..proceeded..to Canton, and delivered the ultimata of the French and English plenipotentiaries. 1883Harper's Mag. April 676/1 note, Different ultimata had been adopted with respect to the boundaries.
b. transf. A final condition or stipulation; one's last word on a matter.
1733Swift Let. to Pope 31 Mar., But, there must be some stipulations for my riding, with other necessary postulatums, and ultimatums. 1787M. Cutler in Life, etc. (1888) I. 299 We therefore begged leave to state to the Board of terms on which we were ready to close the contract, and that those terms must be our Ultimatum. 1813Examiner 11 Jan. 23/1 His Lordship would require, as the ultimatum,..that a competent portion of the natives shall perform duty under British Officers. 1848Dickens Dombey xl, I have state my ultimatum, Madam. 1869Trollope He knew, etc. xxxvii. (1878) 207 The official shrugged his shoulders and signified that his ultimatum had been pronounced.
2. The final point, extreme limit; an ultimate end or aim.
1748Richardon Clarissa (1768) III. 53 That single pressure..delighted me more than ever I was delighted with the Ultimatum with any other woman. 1793R. Willett in Archaeologia XI. 196 The size of our ships seems now to have reached nearly its ultimatum. 1804Jebb Corr. (1834) I. 153 And now I will tell you an ultimatum, which I would far prefer,..the librarianship of Armagh. 1804E. de Acton Tale without Title II. 26 Their ultimatum was obtained, and they were considered as persons of consequence.
b. Const. of.
1770Monthly Rev. 502 This surely is the ultimatum of astronomical precision. 1790Bystander 308 The ultimatum of earthly enjoyment was to give him invitations to their houses. 1802E. Parsons Myst. Visit I. 132 To be married was still the ultimatum of her wishes. 1812Shelley Proposals Pr. Wks. 1888 I. 280 The attainment of the good which I propose as the ultimatum of philanthropic exertion. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. x. 114 At last we came to the Esquimaux ultimatum of simplicity,—raw meat and a fur bag. 1888J. Ellis New Chr. ii. 51 If..all chemical and mechanical changes, or effects, are but the ultimatum of spiritual causes.
c. Final lot or destiny. rare—1.
1861G. Moore Lost Tribes iv. 84 To trace the meaning of God's handwriting concerning the origin and ultimatum of our race.
†3. slang. The hinder parts; the buttocks. Obs.
1823C. Westmacott Points of Misery iii. 31 Old Brummagem and the fat lady being thrown head downwards, formed an excellent step-ladder with their ultimatums for the purpose. 1824in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1825) 38 He..at the same time felt his spinal extremities and his ultimatum covered by a shower of slimy material of a very offensive odour. 1825C. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 165 As for the inexpressibles they hung round his ultimatum like petticoat trousers.
4. A primary element, beyond which analysis becomes impossible; something fundamental.
1858O. W. Holmes Aut. Breakf.-t. i. (1859) 10 No men can have satisfactory relations with each other until they have agreed on certain ultimata of belief not to be disturbed in ordinary conversation. 1867H. Macmillan Bible Teach. i. 22 The truth is, that all our scientific investigations will never conduct us to the ultimatum—the commencement of matter. 1868Bain Ment. & Mor. Sci., Ethics ii. 498 Sensible Perception,..whereby we perceive that the triangle before us is a geometrical ultimatum.
5. Furthest destination; most distant point (to be) reached.
1862Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xi. ii. III. 44 Almost to the coast of the Baltic; their ultimatum there a place called Köslin.
Hence ultiˈmatum v. trans., to present with an ultimatum. (Cf. ultimate v.2)
1897Pall Mall G. 23 Sept. 2 General Woodford never ultimatumed the fiery untamed Duke of Tetuan. |