antepenultimate

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

/ ˌæn ti pɪˈnʌl tə mɪt /

adjective

third from the end.

of or relating to an antepenult.

noun

an antepenult.

Nearby words

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

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
Even when the stress falls on this antepenultimate i, it is short in English speech.
Society for Pure English Tract 4|John Sargeaunt
It need hardly be said that 'tea-houses' like 'grandfathers' has the stress on the antepenultimate.
Society for Pure English Tract 4|John Sargeaunt
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.)

British Dictionary definitions for antepenultimate

antepenultimate

/ (ˌæntɪpɪˈnʌltɪmɪt) /

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

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).