antepenultimate

      English

      Alternative forms

      Etymology

      ante- meaning before, pen- from the Latin paene meaning almost, and ultimate from the Latin ultimus meaning last

      Adjective

      antepenultimate (not comparable)

      1. Two before the last, i.e., the one immediately before the penultimate, in a series.
        This book has ten chapters — chapter 8 is the antepenultimate one.
      2. (of a syllable) Last but two; third from last.

      Coordinate terms

      Synonyms

      • third last
      • third to last

      Translations

      Noun

      antepenultimate (plural antepenultimates)

      1. Two before the last in a series. e.g. (..., antepenultimate, penultimate, ultimate)
      2. The syllable that comes two before the last in a word.
        The words animal, citizen, comedy, dangerous, and obvious are stressed on the antepenultimate.

      Related terms

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      Last modified on 16 June 2013, at 16:39