ultima Thule

American  

[uhl-tuh-muh thoo-lee, ool-ti-mah too-le] / ˈʌl tə mə ˈθu li, ˈʊl tɪˌmɑ ˈtu lɛ /

noun

1. (italics) the highest degree attainable.

2. the farthest point; the limit of any journey.

3. the point believed by the ancients to be farthest north.

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ultima Thule British  

/ ˈθjuːlɪ /

noun

1. another name for Thule

2. any distant or unknown region

3. a remote goal or aim

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Etymology

Origin of ultima Thule

First recorded in 1655–65; literally, farthest Thule

Example Sentences

But you make no mention of that almost fabulous will-o'-the-wisp, that ultima Thule of all cribbage players, the "29 hand."

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus last February Los Angeles station KNX announced the advent of What's On Your Mind?, the ultima Thule in audience-participation shows.

From Time Magazine Archive

They gave to local affairs so excessive an importance that it also appeared to their eyes as if the boundary of the Indian city was the ultima Thule of civilization.

From The Social Evolution of the Argentine Republic by Quesada, Ernesto

Vergil’s ultima Thule, of the northernmost island known, variously identified with the Shetlands, Iceland, or Norway.

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund

For here above all had the thought and the hand come from far away— even from ultima Thule, and yet were in possession triumphant and acclaimed.

From Italian Hours by James, Henry