Etymologically
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ultra

Etymology and origin of the Latin word ultra

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (ūls)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈʊɫ.traː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈul.tra][1]

Forms

ultrā (+ accusative)[1]

Etymology

It is from ūls “beyond” with the suffix ⟨-ter⟩ and the adverb ending ⟨-ā⟩, formed like citrā, intrā and extrā.[2][1] Köbler compares Proto-Indo-European ⟨*al-⟩ “beyond”, the root of ille and alius.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for the preposition is from Cato, “beyond”.[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb it meant on the far side, beyond, as in Varro, and Virgil has nec citrā mōta nec ultrā “moved neither this way nor that”.[2][4] In Sallust it meant thereafter, in Cicero further, more, and in Lucretius besides.[2] As a preposition with the accusative it meant beyond, of place in Cato, of time in Livy, and of degree in Sallust, and Horace used it after negatives for “except”.[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for beyond, farther away.[5] English uses the prefix ultra-, and English ultra as a noun for an extremist from 1817, at first of French ultra-royalists.[6]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it as a preposition.[2][3]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it as an adverb.[2][3]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of time.[2][3]
  • 1817 – English ultra “extremist” is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Beyond, on the far side.[2]
  2. Thereafter.[2]
  3. Further, more; besides.[2]

Preposition

  1. (with accusative) Beyond (in place, time or degree).[2]
  2. Except for.[2]

Word family

  • ultrāmundānus
  • ultrātus
  • ultrō

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Ultra.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/ultra. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·