penultimate, aphoristic, nefarious, patricentric, macaronic: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Ultra set 40. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

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.