I. ˈəl-tə-mət 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
• ul·ti·mate·ness noun
II. noun
Date: 1681
1. : something ultimate ; especially : fundamental
2. : acme
III. -mət, -ˌmāt verb
( -mat·ed ; -mat·ing )
Date: circa 1834
: end