Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The highest point, as of excellence or achievement; the ultimate.
- n. The most profound degree, as of a condition or quality.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Not (anything) more beyond; the extreme or utmost point; completeness; perfection.
Wiktionary
- n. the highest, ultimate point of achievement which can be reached; perfection
- n. the highest possible state, degree, or condition of quality; nothing better
GNU Webster's 1913
- The uttermost point to which one can go or attain; hence, the summit of achievement; the highest point or degree; the acme.
- A prohibition against proceeding further; an insuperable obstacle or limiting condition.
WordNet 3.0
- n. the state of being without a flaw or defect
Etymologies
- Latin nē plūs ultrā, (go) no more beyond (this point) : nē, no + plūs, more + ultrā, beyond.
Examples
“Those who thought about the matter at all took Owen's osteological extravaganzas for the ne plus ultra of morphological speculation.”
The Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘ne plus ultra’.
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Ultimates
ultimate, penultimate, The Ultimates, Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate, Ultimate!, preantepenultimate, antepenultimate, Ultimate Fighting..., ultimate cause, somersaultimate, resultimate and 25 more...
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Last Words
Endings, results, and pinnacles. The ideal here is to somehow imply the paradoxical concept of "after-endings".
consequence, aftermath, finality, outcome, postmundane, endgame, redound, cloture, bourne, meridian, memento mori, psychopomp and 72 more...
mercy Acme; pinnacle; the highest point capable of being attained; the most profound degree of a quality or state. Jun 28, 2008