ultimateadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈʌltᵻmət/, U.S.

/ˈəltəmət/

Etymology: < late Latin ultimātus, past participle of ultimāre to be at the end, < ultimus last, final: see ultime adj.

A. adj.

1. Of ends, designs, etc.: Lying beyond all others; forming the final aim or object.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > intention > [adjective] > relating to intention or purpose > constituting purpose or object > ultimate

finalc1400

terminative1624

ultimate1654

1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence i. 10 The faithful and pious communicants receive the ultimate end of his presence, that is, spiritual blessings.

1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 67 In the obtainment of which he hath come to the ultimate design of his endeavours.

1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. i. i. 61 God is this ultimate End of man,..to which all are means.

a1721 M. Prior Dialogues of Dead iii, in Wks. (1907) II. 258 The beginning, Progress, and Ultimate end of Thought.

1758 S. Johnson Idler 15 Apr. 9 To be idle is the ultimate purpose of the Busy.

1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. Pref. p. xiii If my proper and ultimate object be considered.

1847 G. Harris Life Ld. Hardwicke I. iv. 354 A far higher and nobler reward is their ultimate aim.

a1871 G. Grote Fragm. Ethical Subj. (1876) iv. 72 They would..esteem different agents in proportion as they tended to assist these same ultimate purposes.

1892 H. Lane Differ. Rheum. Dis. (ed. 2) vi. 119 The ultimate goal of all our investigations and observations.

a. Coming at the end of a process, course of action, etc., or as the last in a succession or series; arrived at as a final result or in the last resort.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [adjective] > ultimate or in the end

ultimate1660

1660 R. Coke Justice Vindicated 8 I am content with Aristotle's definition of the will,..That it is the ultimate resolution, end, or determination of counsel.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 210 My harbour and my ultimate repose, The end I would attain, my final good.

1755 E. Young Centaur ii. 115 All agree, that several goods being proposed for our ultimate enjoyment, it is impossible in our nature not to chuse the best.

1785 W. Paley Moral & Polit. Philos. (1818) II. vi. xii. 426 Containing that which in peace and war is equally unjustifiable—ultimate and gratuitous mischief.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. ii. 30 The oscillations..will be found to be quick, and the beam will soon take its ultimate state of rest.

1841 E. Miall in Nonconformist 1 2 Ultimate success will require union, patience, persevering energy.

1862 J. Ruskin Unto this Last i. 8 No man ever knew, or can know, what will be the ultimate result to himself, or to others, of any given line of conduct.

1890 H. Lane Differentiation in Rheumatic Dis. 5 Not to exhaust the subject, nor even to lead the way to the ultimate hope of eradicating the source and the origin of the evil.

b. Of resolves, etc.: Final, determinate, absolute.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [adjective] > conclusive, final

definitivec1386

last1509

peremptory1532

determinate1533

peremptorc1550

determined1561

concludent1571

finitive1593

concluding1620

conclusive1649

ultimate1688

undiscussible1860

unarguable1881

1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Dddd4/1 This is the ultimate Resolution.

1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France (1789) I. i. 4 I have now formed an ultimate resolution against gaming.

1786 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 570 An ultimate opinion should not be formed till we see Mr. Randall.

1803 J. Collins Let. 26 July in Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) II. 138 I consented to wait till then for their ultimate decision.

c. Putting an end to further continuance, development, or action; final, decisive.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [adjective]

finalc1365

endinga1400

finial?a1400

endly1436

conclusional1471

terminalc1475

parting?1570

supreme1570

terminant1589

desinent1608

terminative1613

conclusive1639

graciousa1701

finishing1705

ultimate1755

concluding1795

closing1796

wind-up1843

net1844

conclusory1846

terminational1874

summative1877

wrap-up1968

1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. at End Ultimate state; final doom.

1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 173 Nature opposes..This riving stroke, this ultimate divorce.

1806 T. R. Malthus Ess. Princ. Population (ed. 3) I. i. ii. 15 The ultimate check to population appears then to be a want of food.

1827 R. Pollok Course of Time II. vi. 29 Some disaster great and ultimate.

1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. Introd. p. ci To protect the subject from the oppressions of the crown and its officers, over all which cases it possessed original and ultimate jurisdiction.

1870 J. B. Mozley Univ. Serm. (1877) iii. 60 The natural philosopher is practically assured from the concurrence of data before him, of a result, before the ultimate test is got.

d. Forming a final stage, point, or limit; beyond which there is no advance or progress.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [adjective] > forming a final stage, point, or limit

ultimate1794

1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. I. iv. 161 I informed them, that the creatures [larvæ] before us were not in their ultimate state, but were the produce of the bee-fly.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 34 This salt..causes the hair to contract itself, until it has attained the ultimate limit of its contraction.

1869 W. J. M. Rankine Cycl. Machine & Hand-tools 497 The ultimate shearing strength, or modulus of resistance to shearing.

1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion iii. v. 127 Why should I conceal The ultimate barrier where I needs must pause?

e. Applied to the values of a mechanical property corresponding to fracture or breakage of the object concerned.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > stress or force exerted and tending to deform > [adjective] > values corresponding to fracture or breaking

ultimate1858

1858 W. J. M. Rankine Man. Appl. Mech. ii. iii. 273 The Ultimate Strength of a solid is the stress required to produce fracture in some specified way.

1869 W. J. M. Rankine Man. Machinery & Millwork 485 The column headed ‘Ultimate Extension’ gives the ratio of the elongation of the piece, at the instant of breaking, to its original length.

1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 285/2 The ultimate strength of the material is measured by the maximum intensity of stress which it can bear, or in other words, by the stress which the unit area of cross section can bear.

1922 R. Glazebrook Dict. Appl. Physics I. 156/2 The ultimate stress was in some cases greater when the extension was fast than when it was slow.

1962 H. H. Read & J. Watson Introd. Geol. viii. 446 The properties which control the reactions of rocks are..the values of the elastic limit and the ultimate strength.

f. ultimate Frisbee U.S., a form of the game of Frisbee (see Frisbee n.).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > Frisbee

Frisbee1957

ultimate Frisbee1972

1972 in Amer. Speech 1974 (1976) 49 301 In ultimate Frisbee, two seven-man teams play on a field 60 yards by 40 yards each game lasting 48 minutes.

1980 Boston Globe 7 Mar. 32 The game of Ultimate Frisbee now is included on the list of activities accepted for academic credit at prestigious Worcester Polytechnic Institute, one of the nation's top five suppliers of engineers.

1984 New Yorker 9 Apr. 36/1 Ultimate Frisbee..bears only a slight resemblance to the mellow..Frisbee played on beaches.

a. Beyond which no advance can be made by investigation or analysis; forming a limit or final stage in respect of nature or quality; fundamental or elemental.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [adjective]

fundamental1588

primal1619

groundinga1641

radical1648

radicative1657

ultimate1659

substrated1663

substrate1678

foundational1683

principial1699

basic1846

basal1866

substratal1881

nuclear1912

gut1964

blue skies1985

1659 J. Pearson Expos. Apostles Creed ii. 147 We must acknowledge that the actuall giving of salvation to us, is the ultimate and conclusive ground of the title Saviour.

1681 Humble Ess. Peace & Truth Church 9 Man therefore is justly defined to be a Rational Religious Creature, therein consisting the formal ultimate difference from a Brute.

1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. Introd. 8 Any hypothesis, that pretends to discover the ultimate original qualities of human nature.

1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man ii. 32 Since God is the ultimate Author of all Motion, we must suppose him to be immaterial.

1793 N. Chipman Rep. & Diss. i. 104 The King was, in view of the law, the ultimate owner of all lands within his dominions.

1808 J. Jebb Let. 3 Dec. in J. Jebb & A. Knox Thirty Years' Corr. (1834) I. 453 There are ultimate truths, far above human ken.

1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. iv. 156 The ultimate law of moral agents, must be the will of God.

1850 J. McCosh Method Divine Govt. (1874) iii. i. 295 In the inquiry into virtue and vice, we come back to ultimate principles, on which all morality rests.

1880 A. H. Sayce Introd. Sci. of Lang. (1890) I. 113 The sentence, in short, is..the ultimate starting-point of all our linguistic inquiries.

b. Of material things, esp. of the component particles of matter.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [adjective] > of material things

ultimate1808

1808 J. Barclay Muscular Motions 273 These fibres, composed of the fibres that are called ultimate, are seldom seen extending from the one extremity of a muscle to the other.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 303 All that can be affirmed of the state in which the ultimate particles of matter exist, is only conjecture.

1836–41 W. T. Brande Man. Chem. (ed. 5) 1053 Although the ultimate principles of vegetable substances are few in number.

1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 11 To determine the relative proportion in which each of the ultimate elements exists.

1871 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) II. vi. 81 This formative power,..ready to..build the ultimate particles of matter into definite shapes.

in extended use.1831 T. P. Jones New Conversat. Chem. xxviii. 282 When we decompose them [sc. proximate principles], to ascertain how much they contain of each of the simple bodies, the operation is called ultimate analysis.1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 6 The determination of the proportions..furnishes an illustration of what is meant by ultimate organic analysis.

c. Mathematics. ultimate ratio, the final limiting ratio between two variable quantities which simultaneously approach definite fixed values or limits. (Correlative to prime ratio: see prime adj. and adv. Compounds.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > ratio or proportion > [noun] > where quantities vary

fluxion1704

ultimate ratio1729

flux1878

1729 A. Motte tr. I. Newton Math. Princ. Nat. Philos. I. 46 The ultimate ratio of the arc, chord, and tangent, any one to any other, is the ratio of equality.

1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man ii. 32 According to the mathematical Doctrine of ultimate Ratios, not even an infinite Series..could remove it.

1818 S. Vince Fluxions (ed. 5) 16 The ingenious..Author of the Analyst..went upon the term ultimate ratio, assuming equality where it was never intended.

1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 974/2 They are called prime ratios, or ultimate ratios, according as the ratios of the variables are considered as receding from, or approaching to, the ratios of the limits.

4. Not followed by another; last. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > preceding or following in order > [adjective] > last in order

latemostOE

nextOE

aftermostOE

latestOE

lastc1175

outmost1447

terminalc1475

extreme1477

hindmost1526

final1530

lag1552

uttermosta1555

darrein1555

utter1558

lattermost1566

afterward1584

dernier1602

ultime1626

ultimate1728

postreme1814

1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. iv. 292 Returning home, he bad farewel to the fluid Element; this being his ultimate Expedition.

5. Forming a result or conclusion of a character different from the starting-point or present state; eventual, resultant.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [adjective] > ultimately resulting

ultimate1777

eventual1795

eventful1822

1777 J. Priestley Doctr. Philos. Necessity Ded. p. ix All seeming discord is real harmony, and all apparent evil, ultimate good.

a1797 E. Burke Thoughts on Scarcity (1800) 31 The quiet of the town is purchased by the ruin of the country, and the ultimate wretchedness of both.

1832 H. Martineau Homes Abroad ix. 127 One yields temporary benefit to a few at the expense of ultimate injury to the many.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §1. 161 Neither trick nor conquest could shake the firm faith of the Celt in the ultimate victory of his race.

6. Final, last; occurring in, or falling on, the last syllable of a word.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [adjective] > syllable > occurring on last syllable

ultimate1837

1837 G. Phillips Elem. Syriac Gram. 28 If the ultimate syllable be perfect without the terminating consonant.

1862 G. P. Marsh Lect. Eng. Lang. (new ed.) 380 The great frequency of ultimate and penultimate accentuation.

7. Most remote in space or position. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adjective] > most distant or remotest

utterestc1200

lastc1225

furthestc1374

farthest1377

lattera1382

outmosta1382

outerestc1392

uttermost1398

yondermest1513

farmost1581

hindmost1596

yondmost1608

extremea1616

farthermost1619

furthermost1765

endermost1803

ultimate1848

endmost1879

1848 Johnston in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 297 The ultimate [joint] armed with a long curved..claw.

B. n.

1. The final point or result; the end or conclusion; the last step. the ultimate (const. in), the best that can be achieved or imagined; the ‘last word’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > completing > [noun] > fact or condition of being completed

perfection?c1225

final1582

consummation1604

ultimate1681

consummativeness1701

finish1801

pay-off1937

1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 113 Ordinary Toyes, applauded by a Castilian, for but being his own, with praises as might befit the ultimate of all Perfection.

1718 J. Fox Wanderer 72 I.. once hoped I might attain to the very Ultimate of what you propos'd by Sunday last.

1728 E. Haywood tr. M.-A. de Gomez Belle Assemblée (1732) II. 2 Thelamont,..having now obtain'd the ultimate of his Desires, appear'd more bright and gay than ever.

1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 211 A proper fulminating composition, which seems to be the ultimate to which we may proceed.

1820 P. B. Shelley Let. 26 May (1964) II. 202 I shall write to you the ultimates of my commission in my next letter.

1852 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 5) 534 Ends and beginnings mingle at the last; All ultimates are foreordained.

1890 W. Booth In Darkest Eng. ii. iv. 230 They carried their principles of freedom and license to the logical ultimate.

1958 S. J. Perelman Most of S. J. Perelman 343 The Central Hotel,..advertised as the ultimate in gaiety and chic.

1971 Hi-Fi Sound Feb. 67/1 In the medium-cost category our ideal is a system in which the most attractive ‘top’ features are recognisable while the ultimate in power handling or ‘monitoring’ capability has been lost.

1981 P. Davies Edge of Infinity viii. 168 The ultimate in elaborate organization is the human body and mind.

1981 Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 8 July iii. 1/1 Shop for your man on the first floor and yourself on the second. They have the ultimate in fashions.

2. The point at which investigation or analysis stops; a final or fundamental fact or principle.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [noun] > basis or fundamental principle

principlea1398

basec1500

principium1550

primordial1610

basisa1616

element1655

radical1656

principe1669

seminiuma1676

ultimate1710

rock beda1853

ultimatum1858

rock-bottom1866

ultimity1898

1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe II. 96 It was not her Fault that she became not Mistress of the great Secret, the ultimate of Chymistry.

1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. p. xii The Deluge..was esteemed..the ultimate of Gentile history.

1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 267 The ancient Poet..spoke of him as the father of mankind. In short he was the ultimate, to which Grecian history referred.

1841 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 49 152 Mind seems as it were to be getting loose upon space. It reposes upon no religious ultimates.

1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. v. §65. 235 We come down then finally to Force, as the ultimate of ultimates.

1866 E. P. Whipple Character & Characteristic Men 268 If he calls his notion Law and makes law an ultimate, beyond which the human reason cannot go.

Draft additions July 2002

ultimate fighting n. originally and chiefly North American (a proprietary name for) a form of one-on-one fighting, staged as a spectator sport, in which there are few rules and the participants fight in an octagonal cage using a variety of wrestling and fighting techniques; cf. extreme fighting n. at extreme adj., adv., and n. Additions.

ΚΠ

1993 Multichannel News (Nexis) 6 Sept. 22 Semaphore Entertainment group..has signed a number of sponsors for its Nov. 12 Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event.

1999 M. Foley Mankind, have Nice Day! xix. 333 Dan never really could make the transition from ultimate fighting to sports-entertainment.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	ultimate
释义	ultimateadj.n. Brit. /ˈʌltᵻmət/, U.S. /ˈəltəmət/ Etymology: < late Latin ultimātus, past participle of ultimāre to be at the end, < ultimus last, final: see ultime adj. A. adj. 1. Of ends, designs, etc.: Lying beyond all others; forming the final aim or object. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > intention > [adjective] > relating to intention or purpose > constituting purpose or object > ultimate finalc1400 terminative1624 ultimate1654 1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence i. 10 The faithful and pious communicants receive the ultimate end of his presence, that is, spiritual blessings. 1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 67 In the obtainment of which he hath come to the ultimate design of his endeavours. 1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. i. i. 61 God is this ultimate End of man,..to which all are means. a1721 M. Prior Dialogues of Dead iii, in Wks. (1907) II. 258 The beginning, Progress, and Ultimate end of Thought. 1758 S. Johnson Idler 15 Apr. 9 To be idle is the ultimate purpose of the Busy. 1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. Pref. p. xiii If my proper and ultimate object be considered. 1847 G. Harris Life Ld. Hardwicke I. iv. 354 A far higher and nobler reward is their ultimate aim. a1871 G. Grote Fragm. Ethical Subj. (1876) iv. 72 They would..esteem different agents in proportion as they tended to assist these same ultimate purposes. 1892 H. Lane Differ. Rheum. Dis. (ed. 2) vi. 119 The ultimate goal of all our investigations and observations. 2. a. Coming at the end of a process, course of action, etc., or as the last in a succession or series; arrived at as a final result or in the last resort. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [adjective] > ultimate or in the end ultimate1660 1660 R. Coke Justice Vindicated 8 I am content with Aristotle's definition of the will,..That it is the ultimate resolution, end, or determination of counsel. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 210 My harbour and my ultimate repose, The end I would attain, my final good. View more context for this quotation 1755 E. Young Centaur ii. 115 All agree, that several goods being proposed for our ultimate enjoyment, it is impossible in our nature not to chuse the best. 1785 W. Paley Moral & Polit. Philos. (1818) II. vi. xii. 426 Containing that which in peace and war is equally unjustifiable—ultimate and gratuitous mischief. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. ii. 30 The oscillations..will be found to be quick, and the beam will soon take its ultimate state of rest. 1841 E. Miall in Nonconformist 1 2 Ultimate success will require union, patience, persevering energy. 1862 J. Ruskin Unto this Last i. 8 No man ever knew, or can know, what will be the ultimate result to himself, or to others, of any given line of conduct. 1890 H. Lane Differentiation in Rheumatic Dis. 5 Not to exhaust the subject, nor even to lead the way to the ultimate hope of eradicating the source and the origin of the evil. b. Of resolves, etc.: Final, determinate, absolute. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [adjective] > conclusive, final definitivec1386 last1509 peremptory1532 determinate1533 peremptorc1550 determined1561 concludent1571 finitive1593 concluding1620 conclusive1649 ultimate1688 undiscussible1860 unarguable1881 1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Dddd4/1 This is the ultimate Resolution. 1779 J. Moore View Society & Manners France (1789) I. i. 4 I have now formed an ultimate resolution against gaming. 1786 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 570 An ultimate opinion should not be formed till we see Mr. Randall. 1803 J. Collins Let. 26 July in Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) II. 138 I consented to wait till then for their ultimate decision. c. Putting an end to further continuance, development, or action; final, decisive. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [adjective] finalc1365 endinga1400 finial?a1400 endly1436 conclusional1471 terminalc1475 parting?1570 supreme1570 terminant1589 desinent1608 terminative1613 conclusive1639 graciousa1701 finishing1705 ultimate1755 concluding1795 closing1796 wind-up1843 net1844 conclusory1846 terminational1874 summative1877 wrap-up1968 1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. at End Ultimate state; final doom. 1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 173 Nature opposes..This riving stroke, this ultimate divorce. 1806 T. R. Malthus Ess. Princ. Population (ed. 3) I. i. ii. 15 The ultimate check to population appears then to be a want of food. 1827 R. Pollok Course of Time II. vi. 29 Some disaster great and ultimate. 1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. Introd. p. ci To protect the subject from the oppressions of the crown and its officers, over all which cases it possessed original and ultimate jurisdiction. 1870 J. B. Mozley Univ. Serm. (1877) iii. 60 The natural philosopher is practically assured from the concurrence of data before him, of a result, before the ultimate test is got. d. Forming a final stage, point, or limit; beyond which there is no advance or progress. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [adjective] > forming a final stage, point, or limit ultimate1794 1794 G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Exper. Philos. I. iv. 161 I informed them, that the creatures [larvæ] before us were not in their ultimate state, but were the produce of the bee-fly. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 34 This salt..causes the hair to contract itself, until it has attained the ultimate limit of its contraction. 1869 W. J. M. Rankine Cycl. Machine & Hand-tools 497 The ultimate shearing strength, or modulus of resistance to shearing. 1878 B. Taylor Prince Deukalion iii. v. 127 Why should I conceal The ultimate barrier where I needs must pause? e. Applied to the values of a mechanical property corresponding to fracture or breakage of the object concerned. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > stress or force exerted and tending to deform > [adjective] > values corresponding to fracture or breaking ultimate1858 1858 W. J. M. Rankine Man. Appl. Mech. ii. iii. 273 The Ultimate Strength of a solid is the stress required to produce fracture in some specified way. 1869 W. J. M. Rankine Man. Machinery & Millwork 485 The column headed ‘Ultimate Extension’ gives the ratio of the elongation of the piece, at the instant of breaking, to its original length. 1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 285/2 The ultimate strength of the material is measured by the maximum intensity of stress which it can bear, or in other words, by the stress which the unit area of cross section can bear. 1922 R. Glazebrook Dict. Appl. Physics I. 156/2 The ultimate stress was in some cases greater when the extension was fast than when it was slow. 1962 H. H. Read & J. Watson Introd. Geol. viii. 446 The properties which control the reactions of rocks are..the values of the elastic limit and the ultimate strength. f. ultimate Frisbee U.S., a form of the game of Frisbee (see Frisbee n.). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > Frisbee Frisbee1957 ultimate Frisbee1972 1972 in Amer. Speech 1974 (1976) 49 301 In ultimate Frisbee, two seven-man teams play on a field 60 yards by 40 yards each game lasting 48 minutes. 1980 Boston Globe 7 Mar. 32 The game of Ultimate Frisbee now is included on the list of activities accepted for academic credit at prestigious Worcester Polytechnic Institute, one of the nation's top five suppliers of engineers. 1984 New Yorker 9 Apr. 36/1 Ultimate Frisbee..bears only a slight resemblance to the mellow..Frisbee played on beaches. 3. a. Beyond which no advance can be made by investigation or analysis; forming a limit or final stage in respect of nature or quality; fundamental or elemental. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [adjective] fundamental1588 primal1619 groundinga1641 radical1648 radicative1657 ultimate1659 substrated1663 substrate1678 foundational1683 principial1699 basic1846 basal1866 substratal1881 nuclear1912 gut1964 blue skies1985 1659 J. Pearson Expos. Apostles Creed ii. 147 We must acknowledge that the actuall giving of salvation to us, is the ultimate and conclusive ground of the title Saviour. 1681 Humble Ess. Peace & Truth Church 9 Man therefore is justly defined to be a Rational Religious Creature, therein consisting the formal ultimate difference from a Brute. 1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. Introd. 8 Any hypothesis, that pretends to discover the ultimate original qualities of human nature. 1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man ii. 32 Since God is the ultimate Author of all Motion, we must suppose him to be immaterial. 1793 N. Chipman Rep. & Diss. i. 104 The King was, in view of the law, the ultimate owner of all lands within his dominions. 1808 J. Jebb Let. 3 Dec. in J. Jebb & A. Knox Thirty Years' Corr. (1834) I. 453 There are ultimate truths, far above human ken. 1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. iv. 156 The ultimate law of moral agents, must be the will of God. 1850 J. McCosh Method Divine Govt. (1874) iii. i. 295 In the inquiry into virtue and vice, we come back to ultimate principles, on which all morality rests. 1880 A. H. Sayce Introd. Sci. of Lang. (1890) I. 113 The sentence, in short, is..the ultimate starting-point of all our linguistic inquiries. b. Of material things, esp. of the component particles of matter. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [adjective] > of material things ultimate1808 1808 J. Barclay Muscular Motions 273 These fibres, composed of the fibres that are called ultimate, are seldom seen extending from the one extremity of a muscle to the other. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 303 All that can be affirmed of the state in which the ultimate particles of matter exist, is only conjecture. 1836–41 W. T. Brande Man. Chem. (ed. 5) 1053 Although the ultimate principles of vegetable substances are few in number. 1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 11 To determine the relative proportion in which each of the ultimate elements exists. 1871 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) II. vi. 81 This formative power,..ready to..build the ultimate particles of matter into definite shapes. in extended use.1831 T. P. Jones New Conversat. Chem. xxviii. 282 When we decompose them [sc. proximate principles], to ascertain how much they contain of each of the simple bodies, the operation is called ultimate analysis.1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 6 The determination of the proportions..furnishes an illustration of what is meant by ultimate organic analysis. c. Mathematics. ultimate ratio, the final limiting ratio between two variable quantities which simultaneously approach definite fixed values or limits. (Correlative to prime ratio: see prime adj. and adv. Compounds.) ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > ratio or proportion > [noun] > where quantities vary fluxion1704 ultimate ratio1729 flux1878 1729 A. Motte tr. I. Newton Math. Princ. Nat. Philos. I. 46 The ultimate ratio of the arc, chord, and tangent, any one to any other, is the ratio of equality. 1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man ii. 32 According to the mathematical Doctrine of ultimate Ratios, not even an infinite Series..could remove it. 1818 S. Vince Fluxions (ed. 5) 16 The ingenious..Author of the Analyst..went upon the term ultimate ratio, assuming equality where it was never intended. 1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 974/2 They are called prime ratios, or ultimate ratios, according as the ratios of the variables are considered as receding from, or approaching to, the ratios of the limits. 4. Not followed by another; last. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > preceding or following in order > [adjective] > last in order latemostOE nextOE aftermostOE latestOE lastc1175 outmost1447 terminalc1475 extreme1477 hindmost1526 final1530 lag1552 uttermosta1555 darrein1555 utter1558 lattermost1566 afterward1584 dernier1602 ultime1626 ultimate1728 postreme1814 1728 J. Morgan Compl. Hist. Algiers I. iv. 292 Returning home, he bad farewel to the fluid Element; this being his ultimate Expedition. 5. Forming a result or conclusion of a character different from the starting-point or present state; eventual, resultant. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [adjective] > ultimately resulting ultimate1777 eventual1795 eventful1822 1777 J. Priestley Doctr. Philos. Necessity Ded. p. ix All seeming discord is real harmony, and all apparent evil, ultimate good. a1797 E. Burke Thoughts on Scarcity (1800) 31 The quiet of the town is purchased by the ruin of the country, and the ultimate wretchedness of both. 1832 H. Martineau Homes Abroad ix. 127 One yields temporary benefit to a few at the expense of ultimate injury to the many. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §1. 161 Neither trick nor conquest could shake the firm faith of the Celt in the ultimate victory of his race. 6. Final, last; occurring in, or falling on, the last syllable of a word. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [adjective] > syllable > occurring on last syllable ultimate1837 1837 G. Phillips Elem. Syriac Gram. 28 If the ultimate syllable be perfect without the terminating consonant. 1862 G. P. Marsh Lect. Eng. Lang. (new ed.) 380 The great frequency of ultimate and penultimate accentuation. 7. Most remote in space or position. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adjective] > most distant or remotest utterestc1200 lastc1225 furthestc1374 farthest1377 lattera1382 outmosta1382 outerestc1392 uttermost1398 yondermest1513 farmost1581 hindmost1596 yondmost1608 extremea1616 farthermost1619 furthermost1765 endermost1803 ultimate1848 endmost1879 1848 Johnston in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 297 The ultimate [joint] armed with a long curved..claw. B. n. 1. The final point or result; the end or conclusion; the last step. the ultimate (const. in), the best that can be achieved or imagined; the ‘last word’. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > completing > [noun] > fact or condition of being completed perfection?c1225 final1582 consummation1604 ultimate1681 consummativeness1701 finish1801 pay-off1937 1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 113 Ordinary Toyes, applauded by a Castilian, for but being his own, with praises as might befit the ultimate of all Perfection. 1718 J. Fox Wanderer 72 I.. once hoped I might attain to the very Ultimate of what you propos'd by Sunday last. 1728 E. Haywood tr. M.-A. de Gomez Belle Assemblée (1732) II. 2 Thelamont,..having now obtain'd the ultimate of his Desires, appear'd more bright and gay than ever. 1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 211 A proper fulminating composition, which seems to be the ultimate to which we may proceed. 1820 P. B. Shelley Let. 26 May (1964) II. 202 I shall write to you the ultimates of my commission in my next letter. 1852 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 5) 534 Ends and beginnings mingle at the last; All ultimates are foreordained. 1890 W. Booth In Darkest Eng. ii. iv. 230 They carried their principles of freedom and license to the logical ultimate. 1958 S. J. Perelman Most of S. J. Perelman 343 The Central Hotel,..advertised as the ultimate in gaiety and chic. 1971 Hi-Fi Sound Feb. 67/1 In the medium-cost category our ideal is a system in which the most attractive ‘top’ features are recognisable while the ultimate in power handling or ‘monitoring’ capability has been lost. 1981 P. Davies Edge of Infinity viii. 168 The ultimate in elaborate organization is the human body and mind. 1981 Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 8 July iii. 1/1 Shop for your man on the first floor and yourself on the second. They have the ultimate in fashions. 2. The point at which investigation or analysis stops; a final or fundamental fact or principle. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [noun] > basis or fundamental principle principlea1398 basec1500 principium1550 primordial1610 basisa1616 element1655 radical1656 principe1669 seminiuma1676 ultimate1710 rock beda1853 ultimatum1858 rock-bottom1866 ultimity1898 1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe II. 96 It was not her Fault that she became not Mistress of the great Secret, the ultimate of Chymistry. 1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. p. xii The Deluge..was esteemed..the ultimate of Gentile history. 1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 267 The ancient Poet..spoke of him as the father of mankind. In short he was the ultimate, to which Grecian history referred. 1841 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 49 152 Mind seems as it were to be getting loose upon space. It reposes upon no religious ultimates. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. v. §65. 235 We come down then finally to Force, as the ultimate of ultimates. 1866 E. P. Whipple Character & Characteristic Men 268 If he calls his notion Law and makes law an ultimate, beyond which the human reason cannot go. Draft additions July 2002 ultimate fighting n. originally and chiefly North American (a proprietary name for) a form of one-on-one fighting, staged as a spectator sport, in which there are few rules and the participants fight in an octagonal cage using a variety of wrestling and fighting techniques; cf. extreme fighting n. at extreme adj., adv., and n. Additions. ΚΠ 1993 Multichannel News (Nexis) 6 Sept. 22 Semaphore Entertainment group..has signed a number of sponsors for its Nov. 12 Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event. 1999 M. Foley Mankind, have Nice Day! xix. 333 Dan never really could make the transition from ultimate fighting to sports-entertainment. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022). ultimatev.¹ Brit. /ˈʌltᵻmət/, U.S. /ˈəltəmət/ Etymology: < ultimate adj. or Latin ultimāt-, participial stem of ultimāre (compare Italian ultimare, Spanish ultimar, Portuguese ultimar to finish). 1. transitive. To carry to an end; to complete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > completing > complete (an action or piece of work) [verb (transitive)] to make an endc893 afilleOE endc975 fullOE full-doOE full-workOE fullendOE fullfremeOE full-forthlOE fillc1175 fulfilc1300 complec1315 asum1340 full-make1340 performa1382 finisha1400 accomplishc1405 cheve1426 upwindc1440 perfurnish?c1450 sumc1450 perimplish1468 explete?a1475 fullcome1477 consume1483 consomme1489 perimplenish1499 perfect1512 perfinish1523 complete1530 consummate1530 do1549 to run out1553 perfectionate1570 win1573 outwork1590 to bring about1598 exedifya1617 to do up1654 ratifyc1720 ultimate1849 terminate1857 1849 E. H. Sears Regeneration (1859) iii. i. 131 Works are filled and vitalized by that angelic benevolence which is not complete until clothed and ultimated in action. 1866 B. R. Parkes Vignettes 399 My parents had seen my education ultimated in practical life. 1881 E. S. Holden Sir W. Herschel 53 His researches on the construction of the heavens would have been made; those were in his brain, and must have been ultimated. reflexive.1860 R. W. Emerson Beauty in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 255 It is the soundness of the bones that ultimates itself in a peach-bloom complexion.1880 W. D. Howells Undiscovered Country iii. 50 A ferment of the kind he speaks of in the world of spirits would be more apt to ultimate itself here in the mind than in the stomach.1885 L. Oliphant Sympneumata 14 The moral forces which ultimate themselves dynamically in the actions of men. 2. intransitive. To result finally; to end (in something). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > result [verb (intransitive)] followOE sue?c1225 arisec1275 fallc1300 result?a1425 ensue1483 enfollow1485 issuea1500 rebounda1500 succeed1537 terminate1613 concludea1639 depend1655 eventuate1814 ultimatec1834 come1884 translate1919 c1834 A. H. Stephens in Johnston & Browne Life (1878) 95 How the thing will ultimate I cannot tell. 1868 L. Oliphant Let. in Life (1891) II. viii. 41 We have no place here for those who like to meditate, unless the meditation ultimates in useful work. 1887 Pop. Sci. Monthly Aug. 564/2 Believing that they..must ultimate..in an increase of egoism. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022). ultimatev.² Brit. /ˈʌltᵻmət/, U.S. /ˈəltəmət/ Etymology: Back-formation < ultimatum n. rare. transitive. = ultimatum vb. at ultimatum n. Derivatives. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > peace treaty > [verb (transitive)] > present with final terms ultimate1892 ultimatum1897 1892 Black & White 30 Jan. 135/2 President Harrison has at last ‘ultimated’ Chili, as the Americans will probably soon be saying. 1898 Pall Mall Gaz. 28 Sept. 2 At last the four Powers are going to ultimate the Sultan about the Turkish troops in Crete. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.1654v.¹c1834v.²1892
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ultimateadj.n.

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