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antepenultimate

[an-tee-pi-nuhl-tuh-mit]
adjective
  1. third from the end.
  2. of or relating to an antepenult.
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noun
  1. an antepenult.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for antepenultimate

Historical Examples

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Even when the stress falls on this antepenultimate i, it is short in English speech.

British Dictionary definitions for antepenultimate

antepenultimate

adjective
  1. third from last
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noun
  1. anything that is third from last
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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).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper