Dictionary.com
definitions

ne plus ultra

[ nee pluhs uhl-truh, ney; Latin ne ploo s oo l-trah ]
/ ˈni ˌplʌs ˈʌl trə, ˈneɪ; Latin ˈnɛ ˌplʊs ˈʊl trɑ /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ne plus ultra ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the highest point; acme.
the most intense degree of a quality or state.

RELATED CONTENT

je ne sais quoiRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Outercourse And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comFrom Final Jeopardy to toothbrushes made from panda's favorite snack, the trending words on dictionary.com took us all around the world and back again. Get ready, get set, go word-crazy!
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

extremity, limit, perfection, ultimate, utmost, uttermost

Nearby words

  1. ndola,
  2. ndp,
  3. ndsl,
  4. ndt,
  5. ne,
  6. ne win,
  7. ne win, u,
  8. ne'er,
  9. ne'er-do-well,
  10. ne'erday

Origin of ne plus ultra

1690–1700; < New Latin, Latin nē plūs ultrā (may you) not (go) further beyond (this point)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for ne plus ultra

ne plus ultra

/ Latin (ˈneɪ ˈplʊs ˈʊltrɑː) /

noun

the extreme or perfect point or state

Word Origin for ne plus ultra

literally: not more beyond (that is, go no further), allegedly a warning to sailors inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar
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 ne plus ultra

ne plus ultra

"utmost limit to which one can go," Latin, literally "no more beyond;" the motto traditionally inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper