antepenultimate

[an-tee-pi-nuhl-tuh-mit]

adjective

third from the end.

of or relating to an antepenult.

noun

an antepenult.

Origin of antepenultimate

First recorded in 1720–30; antepenult + (ult)imate

Related formspre·an·te·pe·nul·ti·mate, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antepenultimate

Historical Examples of antepenultimate

On that place, if it be on the penultimate or antepenultimate, the accent should be laid in English.
Notes and Queries, Number 216, December 17, 1853
Various
It lies between the penultimate and antepenultimate pair of legs.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1
Francis Maitland Balfour
Only six thousand pounds now required for the great ultimate, or penultimate, or antepenultimate effort.
Ireland as It Is
Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
B, Toxicognaths of Scolopendra, showing the large coxal plate and the reduced penultimate and antepenultimate segments.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6
Various
Even when the stress falls on this antepenultimate i, it is short in English speech.
Society for Pure English Tract 4
John Sargeaunt

British Dictionary definitions for antepenultimate

antepenultimate

adjective

third from last

noun

anything that is third from last

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for antepenultimate

adj.

"the last but two," 1730, from antepenult (n.), 1610s, abbreviation of Latin antepaenultima (syllaba), fem. of antepaenultimus, from ante "before" (see ante) + paenultima, from paen "almost" + ultima "last" (see ultimate).