ultimate

I. 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 Date: 1640 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 4. maximum 1 Synonyms: see last • ultimateness noun II. noun Date: 1681 1. something ultimate; especially fundamental 2. acme III. verb (-mated; -mating) Date: circa 1834 end