Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The highest point, as of excellence or achievement; the ultimate.
  • noun The most profound degree, as of a condition or quality.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not (anything) more beyond; the extreme or utmost point; completeness; perfection.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • The uttermost point to which one can go or attain; hence, the summit of achievement; the highest point or degree; the acme.
  • Obs. or R. A prohibition against proceeding further; an insuperable obstacle or limiting condition.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun the highest, ultimate point of achievement which can be reached; perfection
  • noun the highest possible state, degree, or condition of quality; nothing better

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the state of being without a flaw or defect

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin nē plūs ultrā, (go) no more beyond (this point) : , no + plūs, more + ultrā, beyond.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin  ("not") plūs ("more") ultrā ("beyond")

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Examples

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Comments

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  • Acme; pinnacle; the highest point capable of being attained; the most profound degree of a quality or state.

    June 28, 2008