— ultimately , adv. — ultimateness , n.
/ul"teuh mit/ , adj.
1. last; furthest or farthest; ending a process or series: the ultimate point in a journey; the ultimate style in hats.
2. maximum; decisive; conclusive: the ultimate authority; the ultimate weapon.
3. highest; not subsidiary: ultimate goal in life.
4. basic; fundamental; representing a limit beyond which further progress, as in investigation or analysis, is impossible: the ultimate particle; ultimate principles.
5. final; total: the ultimate consequences; the ultimate cost of a project.
6. not to be improved upon or surpassed; greatest; unsurpassed: the ultimate vacation spot; the ultimate stupidity.
n.
7. the final point; final result.
8. a fundamental fact or principle.
9. the best, greatest, or most extreme of its kind.
[ 1645-55; ultimatus (ptp. of ultimare to come to an end), equiv. to L ultim ( us ) last, most distant (see ULTIMA) + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. extreme, remotest, uttermost. 2. supreme. 5. See last 1 .
Ant. 5. first.