Etymologically
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ulterior

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ʊɫˈtɛ.ri.ɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ulˈtɛː.ri.or][1]

Forms

ulterior (comparative, neuter ulterius); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is the comparative of an unattested *ulter, which survives in the adverbs ultrā and ultrō, formed with -ior as in inferior.[2][3][1] Etymonline traces it to a suffixed form of Proto-Indo-European *al- (“beyond”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it of persons who are farther off, and Terence asks quis est ulterior? “who is on the other side?”.[2][5] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant farther away, on the far side, as in Gallia ulterior, Gaul beyond the Alps.[2][5] It was used of time, more remote ages in Tacitus, of more distant kinship in Gaius, and of degree, a greater monster in Juvenal.[2] The neuter ulterius meant further, beyond what has been said.[2]

In medieval British Latin it was used of the farther part of a territory, and as a plural noun for more distant regions.[7] English ulterior is recorded in the 1640s as “on the other side of”, and in the sense of ulterior motives by 1735.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of persons farther off.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero names Gallia ulterior.[5][6]
  • 140–180 AD – Gaius uses it of more distant kinship.[2][6]
  • 1640s – Borrowed into English as ulterior.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Farther away, more distant, on the farther side.[2][5]
  2. More distant in time.[2]
  3. More distant in kinship or succession.[2]
  4. Greater in degree; more extreme, worse.[2][1]
  5. Further, additional.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press