ne plus ultra

American  

[nee pluhs uhl-truh, ney, ne ploos ool-trah] / ˈni ˌplʌs ˈʌl trə, ˈneɪ, ˈnɛ ˌplʊs ˈʊl trɑ /

noun

1. the highest point; acme.

2. the most intense degree of a quality or state.

---

ne plus ultra British  

/ ˈneɪ ˈplʊs ˈʊltrɑː /

noun

1. the extreme or perfect point or state

---

Etymology

Origin of ne plus ultra

1690–1700; < New Latin, Latin nē plūs ultrā (may you) not (go) further beyond (this point)

Example Sentences

The show’s executive producers include Jack Bender and Jeff Pinkner, two of the executive producers of “Lost,” the ne plus ultra of trapped-strangers stories.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2022

The ne plus ultra, though, was the Bullocks Wilshire tea room.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2021

Here is a top-notch Italian bubbly and a sublime grower champagne that shows why that region is the ne plus ultra of sparkling wine.

From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2021

“The days are over when getting on the cover of Vanity Fair was the ne plus ultra of public recognition. Now it’s more like the icing on the cake.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2019

That man is a “cooking animal” is considered one of his proudest attributes, and a proper bill of fare may be considered as the ne plus ultra of human genius!

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)