penult
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of penult
1530–40; < Latin paenultima ( syllaba ), contraction of paene ultima almost the last; see pen-, ultima
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Occasionally, an Indian name came to his lips, hesitant syllables cascaded to a tenebrous penult: Rabindranath Tagore.
From Time Magazine Archive
The accent of this word is on the antepenult; by poetic license, in four of the passages above quoted, it is placed on the penult.
From A Collection of College Words and Customs by Benjamin Homer Hall
It may possesse the last syllab: as supprést, preténce, sincere; the penult: as súbject, cándle, cráftie; the antepenult: as diffícultie, mínister, fínallie; and the fourth also from the end, as is said sect.
From Of the Orthographie and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue A Treates, noe shorter than necessarie, for the Schooles by Henry Benjamin Wheatley
In this book there are many Russian names of men and places; but the majority of names are accented on the penult.
From With Fire and Sword An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. by Henryk Sienkiewicz
It has been thought best, therefore, to state this fact, and place accents only on words accented on syllables other than the penult.
From With Fire and Sword An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. by Henryk Sienkiewicz
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