Definition of ultimate

exculpate Definition: (verb) to free from blame or guilt. Petersons.com

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< ultimata

ultimately >

ul·ti·mate    (lt-mt) KEY  

ADJECTIVE:

1. Being last in a series, process, or progression: "As the ultimate arbiter of the Constitution, the Supreme Court occupies a central place in our scheme of government" (Richard A. Epstein).
2. Fundamental; elemental: an ultimate truth.
3. 1. Of the greatest possible size or significance; maximum: Has the ultimate diamond been found?
   2. Representing or exhibiting the greatest possible development or sophistication: the ultimate bicycle.
   3. Utmost; extreme: the ultimate insult.
4. Being most distant or remote; farthest. See Synonyms at last ¹.
5. Eventual: hoped for ultimate victory.

NOUN:

1. The basic or fundamental fact, element, or principle.
2. The final point; the conclusion.
3. The greatest extreme; the maximum: actions that represented the ultimate in political expediency.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin ultimtus, past participle of ultimre, to come to an end, from ultimus, last, superlative of *ulter, on the other side; see al- ¹ in Indo-European roots

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