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ultimatum - 5 dictionary results

ul⋅ti⋅ma⋅tum

[uhl-tuh-mey-tuhm, -mah-]
–noun, plural -tums, -ta [-tuh] .
1. a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute, the rejection of which may lead to a severance of relations or to the use of force.
2. a final proposal or statement of conditions.

Origin:
1725–35; < NL, n. use of neut. of LL ultimātus. See ultimate
ul·ti·ma·tum   (ŭl'tə-mā'təm, -mä'-)   
n.   pl. ul·ti·ma·tums or ul·ti·ma·ta (-tə)
  1. A final statement of terms made by one party to another.
  2. A statement, especially in diplomatic negotiations, that expresses or implies the threat of serious penalties if the terms are not accepted.

[New Latin, from neuter of Latin ultimātus, last; see ultimate.]

Ultimatum

Ul`ti*ma"tum\, n.; pl. E. Ultimatums, L. Ultimata. [NL. See Ultimate.] A final proposition, concession, or condition; especially, the final propositions, conditions, or terms, offered by either of the parties in a diplomatic negotiation; the most favorable terms a negotiator can offer, the rejection of which usually puts an end to the hesitation.
Language Translation for : ultimatum
Spanish: ultimátum,
German: das Ultimatum,
Japanese: 最後通牒

ultimatum [(ul-tuh-may-tuhm)]

A formal message delivered from one government to another threatening war if the receiving government fails to comply with conditions set forth in the message. For example, after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand in 1914, the government of Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia, which Austria held responsible for the assassination.


ultimatum 
1731, from Mod.L., from M.L. adj. ultimatum "last possible, final," from L. ultimatum, neut. of ultimatus (see ultimate). Hamilton and others use the L. plural ultimata. In slang c.1820s, ultimatum was used for "the buttocks."
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