ultimatum
nounattested in dialogue
- //ˌʌl.tɪˈmeɪ.təm//
A final statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another, especially one that expresses a threat of reprisal or war if the terms are not met before some specified date and time.
noun
- 1
A final statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another, especially one that expresses a threat of reprisal or war if the terms are not met before some specified date and time.
- 2
datedAn intended final statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another in a negotiation.
1724 William Wynne: The Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins, Judge of the High-Court of Admiralty . . . Thirdly, That they, the Dutch, 5 or 6 Weeks after they had received these Letters, (of 12th of July) call'd for an Ultimatum, so they termed the dernier mot, from us; and that we gave our Ultimatum to the Mediators first by Word of Mouth in August, then on the 5th of September, N. S. in writing.
Etymology
From Latin ultimatus (“late, last final”), from Latin ultimus (“extreme, last, furthest, farthest, final”).
Forms
- plural
- ultimatums, ultimata
ultimatum · A final statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another, especially one that expresses a threat of reprisal or war if the terms are not…
ultra · Extreme; far beyond the norm; fanatical; uncompromising.ultrasound · Sound with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human…Ulysses · The Latin equivalent of Odysseus.