This week’s theme
Lesser-known counterparts

This week’s words
benignant
forgettery
endarken
penultimatum
presenteeism

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(puh-nuhl-tuh-MAY-tuhm)

MEANING:

noun: A demand made before an ultimatum.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin paene (almost) + ultimus (last). Earliest documented use: 1791.

USAGE:

“Loeser made an ultimatum, which they both knew was at best a penultimatum or an antepenultimatum.”
Ned Beauman; The Teleportation Accident; Sceptre; 2012.
[If you are especially kind, consider giving a preantepenultimatum as well. -Ed.]

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: