antepenultimate

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

/ ˌæn ti pɪˈnʌl tə mɪt /

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adjective

third from the end.

of or relating to an antepenult.

noun

an antepenult.

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SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of antepenultimate

First recorded in 1670–80; antepenult + (ult)imate

OTHER WORDS FROM antepenultimate

pre·an·te·pe·nul·ti·mate, adjective

Words nearby antepenultimate

anteorbital, antepartum, antepast, antependium, antepenult, antepenultimate, anteporch, anteportico, anteposition, ante-post, anteprandial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use antepenultimate in a sentence

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.)
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

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

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