Definitions

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

  • adverb Next to the last in order.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

penultimate +‎ -ly

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word penultimately.

Examples

  • The ultimate truth is penultimately always a falsehood.

    Autumn Thomas Plastino Martin 2010

  • This is getting longer than expected and focus is drifting, so penultimately...

    Professor Radical Goes To Washington To Preview The Apocalypse Tenured Radical 2009

  • It would be easy to pick this book apart as formulaic and trite, as the Baudelaires drag their tired, pseudo-victorian selves through another 13 penultimately perilous chapters, but, as it turns out, Snicket has turned form-ula into form-ulart - to the extent that three chapters within this larger screed are, themselves, entirely formulaic.

    Dru Blood - I believe in the inherent goodness of all beings: The Penultimate Peril 2005

  • This is a very intriguing story, although not too detailed as to precisely how the biocomputer automatas would work--makes me wonder how they might be used to repair or enhance neurons and their synaptic connections in the brain for elevated cogitation, memory, math or other skills and, penultimately, higher intelligence, if at all possible.

    Posthuman Blues Mac 2007

  • It would be easy to pick this book apart as formulaic and trite, as the Baudelaires drag their tired, pseudo-victorian selves through another 13 penultimately perilous chapters, but, as it turns out, Snicket has turned form-ula into form-ulart - to the extent that three chapters within this larger screed are, themselves, entirely formulaic.

    Dru Blood - I believe in the inherent goodness of all beings: November 2005 Archives 2005

  • Just because everything ultimately is permitted doesn't protect you, penultimately, from being born a place where most things aren't.

    island of la grande jatte 2006

  • What meaning you attribute to that facet of science is your own business ultimately, NOT penultimately.

    The Techno-Geek Speaks Greek - The Panda's Thumb 2006

  • His gaze seemed but to stimulate her to more vivacious flirtation; and she "carried on above a bit," as a cynical subaltern remarked, with the gallant major to whom she had been penultimately engaged.

    Camps, Quarters, and Casual Places Archibald Forbes 1869

  • First from the front in its shortest view: and then penultimately (and more impressively) from the side, in the shortest setting: and then finally, and most impressively is balance mode in its tallest view:

    MSDN Blogs 2008

  • It’s Web 2.0, not Windows 3.11 2. As I have worked on and back stage most of my life, there is penultimately never a good excuse for A. not allowing the speaker to have control as to whether or not the House Lights may up nor B. allowing the stage lights to be painfully bright – that borders on insanity and any professional LD will tell you so!

    apophenia » Blog Archive » spectacle at Web2.0 Expo… from my perspective 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.