ultra
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈʌltɹə/[1]
Etymology
It is borrowed from French ultra, short for ultra-royaliste (“extreme royalist”),[2][3][4][5] from Latin ultrā (“beyond”) (see ultra-),[2][3] which Barnhart relates to Old Latin olle, that one.[2]
Earliest recorded meaning
As an adjective, ultra-royalist, in a French context: 1817.[2][6][3] As a noun, an extreme royalist in France, also 1817.[6]
Semantic evolution
Of persons or parties holding extreme views in politics or religion, it is from 1820,[6] and as a noun, an extremist, from 1823.[6][3] One who goes to extremes in fashion is from 1819.[3] Going beyond what is usual, excessive, is from 1818.[6][7] Ultraism is from 1821.[3] In football, an ultra is a fanatical supporter.[8]
Timeline
- 1817 – an ultra-royalist.[2][6]
- 1818 – extreme, excessive.[6]
- 1823 – an extremist.[6]
- 1821 – ultraism.[3]
Modern meaning
Adjective
- Going beyond the usual; extreme, especially in opinions.
Noun
- A person with extreme views; an extremist.
Word family
- ultraism
Related words
Usage notes
SOED records a rare preposition ultra, beyond, chiefly in the Latin phrase ultra crepidam, beyond one's competence (see ultracrepidarian).[4]
References
- ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
- ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins