Set 40 · Study 1 / 5

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penultimate

adjective/pəˈnʌltɪmət/

definition

next to last in a sequence

example

In the penultimate chapter of the book, the protagonist faces a monumental challenge that sets the stage for the final resolution.

synonyms
second to lastnext to lastone before last
word origin — from Latin 'paenultimus', where 'paene' means 'almost' and 'ultimus' means 'last'

Word Ultra — Set 40

Set 40 of Word Ultra covers 5 words: penultimate, aphoristic, nefarious, patricentric, macaronic. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. penultimate · adjective/pəˈnʌltɪmət/

    next to last in a sequence

    In the penultimate chapter of the book, the protagonist faces a monumental challenge that sets the stage for the final resolution.

    Synonyms: second to last, next to last, one before last

    Origin: from Latin 'paenultimus', where 'paene' means 'almost' and 'ultimus' means 'last'

  2. aphoristic · adjective/ˌæf.əˈrɪs.tɪk/

    of or relating to aphorisms; characterized by brevity and expressiveness

    His speech was filled with aphoristic statements that captured complex ideas in just a few words.

    Synonyms: concise, terse, pithy

    Origin: From the Greek 'aphorismos', meaning 'a definition or a statement of principle', from 'aphorizein', meaning 'to define'.

  3. nefarious · adjective/nəˈfɛriəs/

    wickedly or criminally evil

    The villain's nefarious plans to take over the city were foiled by the brave hero.

    Synonyms: wicked, evil, immoral

    Origin: from Latin 'nefarious', meaning 'unlawful' or 'wicked', derived from 'ne-' (not) + 'fas' (that which is divinely right), thus relating to actions that are contrary to divine law.

  4. patricentric · adjective/pəˈtrɪsɛntrɪk/

    relating to or characterized by a focus on male or paternal influence and dominance

    The patricentric values of the society often dictated the roles and expectations of its citizens, sidelining the contributions of women.

    Synonyms: patriarchal, male-dominated, paternalistic

    Origin: Derived from the Latin 'pater' meaning 'father' combined with the Greek suffix '-centric' meaning 'centered on' or 'dominated by'.

  5. macaronic · adjective/ˌmækəˈrɑnɪk/

    a mixture of languages in a single expression or text

    The author employed a macaronic style in his poem, blending English and Italian phrases to create a unique rhythm.

    Synonyms: bicultural, multilingual, hybrid

    Origin: from the Italian word 'maccherone', meaning a kind of pasta, which evolved to refer to a mixture or jumble, especially in language.