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Definition of penultimate - 3 dictionary results

pe⋅nul⋅ti⋅mate

  [pi-nuhl-tuh-mit]
Use penultimate in a Sentence
–adjective
1. next to the last: the penultimate scene of the play.
2. of or pertaining to a penult.
–noun
3. a penult.
Origin:
1670–80; see penult, ultimate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To penultimate
pe·nul·ti·mate   (pĭ-nŭl'tə-mĭt)   
adj.  

  1. Next to last.

  2. Linguistics Of or relating to the penult of a word: penultimate stress.

n.  The next to the last.

[From Latin paenultimus; see penult.]
pe·nul'ti·mate·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

penultimate  (adj.)
1677, from earlier penultima (n.) "the next to the last syllable of a word or verse," from fem. of L. adj. penultimus "next-to-last," from pæne "almost" + ultimus "final."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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