ultimum Latin · revision 31157

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=96–55 BC, Lucretius|origins=ine-pro *h₂ol-tm̥Ho-}}

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''ultimum''' ''n'' (genitive ''ultimī''); second declension^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|ultimus|t=farthest, last]] used as a noun and an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces ⟨ultimus⟩ to [[itc-pro|*oltamo-|t=most to that side]] and [[ine-pro|*h₂ol-tm̥Ho-|t=furthest, last]], from the root of [[m|la|ille|t=that]] (older ⟨olle⟩); cognate with [[osc|últiumam|t=last]].^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first example in the OLD is Lucretius, where the sun has driven to the farthest parts of the sky (''ultima caelī'').^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it is the farthest part or end, as Cicero's heaven “which is the outermost and farthest part of the world”, and the last part or conclusion, as Livy's end of a speech and Seneca's “you have reached the end of human life”.^(OLD 2012) The plural ''ultima'' is the last things or the outcome, as Cicero's “wait for the end”, and a last resort, as Livy's men who decide to try the last resort.^(OLD 2012) ''Ad ultimum'' is “to the end, to the last” and “finally”, as in Livy and Quintilian.^(OLD 2012)

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+ The adverbial ''ultimum'' is “for the last time”, as in Apuleius of a dead man “mourned for the last time”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the farthest parts of the sky.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the outermost part of the world.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of ''ad ultimum'' and of a last resort.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius of “for the last time”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The farthest part, [[m|en|extremity]]; the end, conclusion.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(plural ultima)'' The last things, the outcome; a last resort.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''ad ultimum'', to the end; finally.^(OLD 2012)

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+ ===Adverb===

+ # For the last time.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ultimus]]

+ * [[ultrā]]

+ * [[extrēmum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}