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Do native speakers use “ultima” and “proxima” frequently in spoken English?


How do native speakers say 'the light bulb has stopped working'the difference between “to revamp” ,“enhance” and “overhaul”How do we tell our currently running year of age?What's the layperson's term for words like “am”, “be”, “were”?How do I speak about a respectful person?Finger distance in musicWhat do we call English with dots and dashes?Do native speakers use 'so-so'?How to express “friends that I only know them on internet” English?Does “Until when” sound natural for native speakers?













8















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.



How do native speakers use these?










share|improve this question



















  • 5





    I notice you asked about spoken language, as if you've seen these used in written. I've never seen them used as normal words in written English. Any chance you've confused them with the similar words "ultimate" and "proximate"?

    – Dan Getz
    11 hours ago






  • 3





    Only when referring to astronomical objects - Ultima Thule and Proxima Centauri - otherwise I have never heard them in spokend English. Words derived from their Latin meaning are fairly common - ultimate/ultimatum, approximate, &c.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago






  • 1





    I agree with the other posters. I am a native speaker of American English, and I have never heard the words ultima or proxima used in Spoken English. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used in writing either. The roots are fairly commonly used in other forms, like “ultimate” and “proximate”, but “ultima” and “proxima” are not in common use at all.

    – Duncan C
    6 hours ago















8















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.



How do native speakers use these?










share|improve this question



















  • 5





    I notice you asked about spoken language, as if you've seen these used in written. I've never seen them used as normal words in written English. Any chance you've confused them with the similar words "ultimate" and "proximate"?

    – Dan Getz
    11 hours ago






  • 3





    Only when referring to astronomical objects - Ultima Thule and Proxima Centauri - otherwise I have never heard them in spokend English. Words derived from their Latin meaning are fairly common - ultimate/ultimatum, approximate, &c.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago






  • 1





    I agree with the other posters. I am a native speaker of American English, and I have never heard the words ultima or proxima used in Spoken English. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used in writing either. The roots are fairly commonly used in other forms, like “ultimate” and “proximate”, but “ultima” and “proxima” are not in common use at all.

    – Duncan C
    6 hours ago













8












8








8


1






I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.



How do native speakers use these?










share|improve this question
















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.



How do native speakers use these?







word-request






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 9 hours ago









Jasper

18.5k43671




18.5k43671










asked 12 hours ago









Kumar sadhuKumar sadhu

393112




393112







  • 5





    I notice you asked about spoken language, as if you've seen these used in written. I've never seen them used as normal words in written English. Any chance you've confused them with the similar words "ultimate" and "proximate"?

    – Dan Getz
    11 hours ago






  • 3





    Only when referring to astronomical objects - Ultima Thule and Proxima Centauri - otherwise I have never heard them in spokend English. Words derived from their Latin meaning are fairly common - ultimate/ultimatum, approximate, &c.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago






  • 1





    I agree with the other posters. I am a native speaker of American English, and I have never heard the words ultima or proxima used in Spoken English. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used in writing either. The roots are fairly commonly used in other forms, like “ultimate” and “proximate”, but “ultima” and “proxima” are not in common use at all.

    – Duncan C
    6 hours ago












  • 5





    I notice you asked about spoken language, as if you've seen these used in written. I've never seen them used as normal words in written English. Any chance you've confused them with the similar words "ultimate" and "proximate"?

    – Dan Getz
    11 hours ago






  • 3





    Only when referring to astronomical objects - Ultima Thule and Proxima Centauri - otherwise I have never heard them in spokend English. Words derived from their Latin meaning are fairly common - ultimate/ultimatum, approximate, &c.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago






  • 1





    I agree with the other posters. I am a native speaker of American English, and I have never heard the words ultima or proxima used in Spoken English. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used in writing either. The roots are fairly commonly used in other forms, like “ultimate” and “proximate”, but “ultima” and “proxima” are not in common use at all.

    – Duncan C
    6 hours ago







5




5





I notice you asked about spoken language, as if you've seen these used in written. I've never seen them used as normal words in written English. Any chance you've confused them with the similar words "ultimate" and "proximate"?

– Dan Getz
11 hours ago





I notice you asked about spoken language, as if you've seen these used in written. I've never seen them used as normal words in written English. Any chance you've confused them with the similar words "ultimate" and "proximate"?

– Dan Getz
11 hours ago




3




3





Only when referring to astronomical objects - Ultima Thule and Proxima Centauri - otherwise I have never heard them in spokend English. Words derived from their Latin meaning are fairly common - ultimate/ultimatum, approximate, &c.

– jamesqf
9 hours ago





Only when referring to astronomical objects - Ultima Thule and Proxima Centauri - otherwise I have never heard them in spokend English. Words derived from their Latin meaning are fairly common - ultimate/ultimatum, approximate, &c.

– jamesqf
9 hours ago




1




1





I agree with the other posters. I am a native speaker of American English, and I have never heard the words ultima or proxima used in Spoken English. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used in writing either. The roots are fairly commonly used in other forms, like “ultimate” and “proximate”, but “ultima” and “proxima” are not in common use at all.

– Duncan C
6 hours ago





I agree with the other posters. I am a native speaker of American English, and I have never heard the words ultima or proxima used in Spoken English. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them used in writing either. The roots are fairly commonly used in other forms, like “ultimate” and “proximate”, but “ultima” and “proxima” are not in common use at all.

– Duncan C
6 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















17














"Ultimate", "penultimate", "proximate", and "approximate" are English words.



"Ultimate" is common, partly because it is used in advertising.



"Penultimate" is less common than "ultimate", partly because nobody wants to advertise that their product is second-best.



"Approximate" is common, both as an adjective and as a verb. The adjective "approximate" is more formal than the adjective "rough"; the verb "approximate" is more formal than "make a careful guess" or "come close to".



"Proximate" is not very common. Both "penultimate" and "proximate" are sometimes used by educated writers.



Ultima and proxima are so rare that they might as well still be Latin words. Until I looked them up just now, I had no idea that ultima specifically referred to the last syllable in a word, instead of generally the "furthest out" thing in a group of things. The most common use of ultima is in the title of the on-line game Ultima Online. The most common use of proxima is in the name of the second-closest star to the Earth, Proxima Centauri.






share|improve this answer


















  • 1





    I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

    – Xavon_Wrentaile
    2 hours ago


















14














Those both exist as words in English, but with very specialised meanings or very infrequent use. These relate to their meanings in Latin, which are reflected in modern Spanish (and possibly Portuguese, too), albeit with accents on some letters.



Ultima is used in specialised situations to refer to the last syllable of a word.



Proxima is a little-known term that means "of (the) next month", for example "on the 3rd proxima" means "on the third day of next month".



These are both rather obscure words and most people are not familiar with them. I only know what they mean now because I thought I should look them up before saying "those are not English words".



Don't use them. Well, use ultima if you're in the sort of context where other people use it. Don't use it otherwise, and basically no-one uses proxima unless they're trying to show off their expansive vocabulary.






share|improve this answer

























  • I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago












  • @Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

    – ColleenV
    11 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago











  • I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago






  • 7





    SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

    – Michael Harvey
    10 hours ago



















8















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima is rarely used.



How native speakers use these?




I know from my knowledge of classical Latin and of Spanish that these words mean 'last' and 'next' respectively.



How do native speakers use these? They don't. I have never used or heard or read these words in English.



Edit 1



I see from @SamBC that these words appear in English dictionaries with very specialised meanings. I didn't know those meanings and I will not make any attempt to remember them.



Edit 2



It occurs to me that astronomers use 'proxima' as in Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, in the constellation of Centaurus. This is however the name of the star and is not used in general conversation by most people unless they happening to be discussing that particular celestial body.






share|improve this answer

























  • +1. They are very common in my language too.

    – Lucian Sava
    11 hours ago












  • Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago


















5














In 18th and 19th century business correspondence, these words, invariably abbreviated as "Ult." and "Prox." were often used to mean mean 'of the last month" and "of the next month". Such a letter might run:




In your favor of the 19th ult., you proposed delivery on the 20th prox. The supplies are needed by the 10th prox. at the latest.




(Here "favor" was a polite term for "letter addressed to me" now also obsolete.)



I have not seen this usage in any document later than about 1920, and rarely in any later than 1880. Currently I see them only in historical fiction of that period, or in the star name Proxima Centauri mentioned in other answers.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago











  • @jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

    – David Siegel
    8 hours ago











  • There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

    – Especially Lime
    7 hours ago











  • @Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

    – David Siegel
    7 hours ago











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4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes








4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









17














"Ultimate", "penultimate", "proximate", and "approximate" are English words.



"Ultimate" is common, partly because it is used in advertising.



"Penultimate" is less common than "ultimate", partly because nobody wants to advertise that their product is second-best.



"Approximate" is common, both as an adjective and as a verb. The adjective "approximate" is more formal than the adjective "rough"; the verb "approximate" is more formal than "make a careful guess" or "come close to".



"Proximate" is not very common. Both "penultimate" and "proximate" are sometimes used by educated writers.



Ultima and proxima are so rare that they might as well still be Latin words. Until I looked them up just now, I had no idea that ultima specifically referred to the last syllable in a word, instead of generally the "furthest out" thing in a group of things. The most common use of ultima is in the title of the on-line game Ultima Online. The most common use of proxima is in the name of the second-closest star to the Earth, Proxima Centauri.






share|improve this answer


















  • 1





    I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

    – Xavon_Wrentaile
    2 hours ago















17














"Ultimate", "penultimate", "proximate", and "approximate" are English words.



"Ultimate" is common, partly because it is used in advertising.



"Penultimate" is less common than "ultimate", partly because nobody wants to advertise that their product is second-best.



"Approximate" is common, both as an adjective and as a verb. The adjective "approximate" is more formal than the adjective "rough"; the verb "approximate" is more formal than "make a careful guess" or "come close to".



"Proximate" is not very common. Both "penultimate" and "proximate" are sometimes used by educated writers.



Ultima and proxima are so rare that they might as well still be Latin words. Until I looked them up just now, I had no idea that ultima specifically referred to the last syllable in a word, instead of generally the "furthest out" thing in a group of things. The most common use of ultima is in the title of the on-line game Ultima Online. The most common use of proxima is in the name of the second-closest star to the Earth, Proxima Centauri.






share|improve this answer


















  • 1





    I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

    – Xavon_Wrentaile
    2 hours ago













17












17








17







"Ultimate", "penultimate", "proximate", and "approximate" are English words.



"Ultimate" is common, partly because it is used in advertising.



"Penultimate" is less common than "ultimate", partly because nobody wants to advertise that their product is second-best.



"Approximate" is common, both as an adjective and as a verb. The adjective "approximate" is more formal than the adjective "rough"; the verb "approximate" is more formal than "make a careful guess" or "come close to".



"Proximate" is not very common. Both "penultimate" and "proximate" are sometimes used by educated writers.



Ultima and proxima are so rare that they might as well still be Latin words. Until I looked them up just now, I had no idea that ultima specifically referred to the last syllable in a word, instead of generally the "furthest out" thing in a group of things. The most common use of ultima is in the title of the on-line game Ultima Online. The most common use of proxima is in the name of the second-closest star to the Earth, Proxima Centauri.






share|improve this answer













"Ultimate", "penultimate", "proximate", and "approximate" are English words.



"Ultimate" is common, partly because it is used in advertising.



"Penultimate" is less common than "ultimate", partly because nobody wants to advertise that their product is second-best.



"Approximate" is common, both as an adjective and as a verb. The adjective "approximate" is more formal than the adjective "rough"; the verb "approximate" is more formal than "make a careful guess" or "come close to".



"Proximate" is not very common. Both "penultimate" and "proximate" are sometimes used by educated writers.



Ultima and proxima are so rare that they might as well still be Latin words. Until I looked them up just now, I had no idea that ultima specifically referred to the last syllable in a word, instead of generally the "furthest out" thing in a group of things. The most common use of ultima is in the title of the on-line game Ultima Online. The most common use of proxima is in the name of the second-closest star to the Earth, Proxima Centauri.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 10 hours ago









JasperJasper

18.5k43671




18.5k43671







  • 1





    I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

    – Xavon_Wrentaile
    2 hours ago












  • 1





    I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

    – Xavon_Wrentaile
    2 hours ago







1




1





I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

– Xavon_Wrentaile
2 hours ago





I would argue that the spell Ultima across the Final Fantasy and related game series is at least as common/well known as the Ultima game series at this point.

– Xavon_Wrentaile
2 hours ago













14














Those both exist as words in English, but with very specialised meanings or very infrequent use. These relate to their meanings in Latin, which are reflected in modern Spanish (and possibly Portuguese, too), albeit with accents on some letters.



Ultima is used in specialised situations to refer to the last syllable of a word.



Proxima is a little-known term that means "of (the) next month", for example "on the 3rd proxima" means "on the third day of next month".



These are both rather obscure words and most people are not familiar with them. I only know what they mean now because I thought I should look them up before saying "those are not English words".



Don't use them. Well, use ultima if you're in the sort of context where other people use it. Don't use it otherwise, and basically no-one uses proxima unless they're trying to show off their expansive vocabulary.






share|improve this answer

























  • I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago












  • @Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

    – ColleenV
    11 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago











  • I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago






  • 7





    SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

    – Michael Harvey
    10 hours ago
















14














Those both exist as words in English, but with very specialised meanings or very infrequent use. These relate to their meanings in Latin, which are reflected in modern Spanish (and possibly Portuguese, too), albeit with accents on some letters.



Ultima is used in specialised situations to refer to the last syllable of a word.



Proxima is a little-known term that means "of (the) next month", for example "on the 3rd proxima" means "on the third day of next month".



These are both rather obscure words and most people are not familiar with them. I only know what they mean now because I thought I should look them up before saying "those are not English words".



Don't use them. Well, use ultima if you're in the sort of context where other people use it. Don't use it otherwise, and basically no-one uses proxima unless they're trying to show off their expansive vocabulary.






share|improve this answer

























  • I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago












  • @Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

    – ColleenV
    11 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago











  • I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago






  • 7





    SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

    – Michael Harvey
    10 hours ago














14












14








14







Those both exist as words in English, but with very specialised meanings or very infrequent use. These relate to their meanings in Latin, which are reflected in modern Spanish (and possibly Portuguese, too), albeit with accents on some letters.



Ultima is used in specialised situations to refer to the last syllable of a word.



Proxima is a little-known term that means "of (the) next month", for example "on the 3rd proxima" means "on the third day of next month".



These are both rather obscure words and most people are not familiar with them. I only know what they mean now because I thought I should look them up before saying "those are not English words".



Don't use them. Well, use ultima if you're in the sort of context where other people use it. Don't use it otherwise, and basically no-one uses proxima unless they're trying to show off their expansive vocabulary.






share|improve this answer















Those both exist as words in English, but with very specialised meanings or very infrequent use. These relate to their meanings in Latin, which are reflected in modern Spanish (and possibly Portuguese, too), albeit with accents on some letters.



Ultima is used in specialised situations to refer to the last syllable of a word.



Proxima is a little-known term that means "of (the) next month", for example "on the 3rd proxima" means "on the third day of next month".



These are both rather obscure words and most people are not familiar with them. I only know what they mean now because I thought I should look them up before saying "those are not English words".



Don't use them. Well, use ultima if you're in the sort of context where other people use it. Don't use it otherwise, and basically no-one uses proxima unless they're trying to show off their expansive vocabulary.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 11 hours ago

























answered 12 hours ago









SamBCSamBC

12.4k1546




12.4k1546












  • I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago












  • @Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

    – ColleenV
    11 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago











  • I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago






  • 7





    SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

    – Michael Harvey
    10 hours ago


















  • I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago












  • @Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

    – ColleenV
    11 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    11 hours ago











  • I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago






  • 7





    SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

    – Michael Harvey
    10 hours ago

















I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

– Gustavson
11 hours ago






I looked them up and didn't find them in a couple of dictionaries. I should have checked some others before saying "those are not English words".

– Gustavson
11 hours ago














@Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

– ColleenV
11 hours ago





@Gustavson I think it is interesting to mention that they are also Spanish words. Are they also uncommon in Spanish?

– ColleenV
11 hours ago













No, they are extremely common.

– Gustavson
11 hours ago





No, they are extremely common.

– Gustavson
11 hours ago













I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

– SamBC
11 hours ago





I suspect that English proxima derives purely from people with expensive educations trying to demonstrate that they had a Latin education. Ultima as a specialist term is more understandable.

– SamBC
11 hours ago




7




7





SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

– Michael Harvey
10 hours ago






SamBC, when I was a boy in Britain, a certain way of writing routine business letters was in its death throes, but still lingering on in places. 'yours of the 14th ultimo” meant "your letter dated the 14th of last month". As well as that you had "instant" (this month), and "proximo" (next month), usually abbreviated to e.g. the 14th ult., 23 inst., and 3rd prox. I am told they linger in India.

– Michael Harvey
10 hours ago












8















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima is rarely used.



How native speakers use these?




I know from my knowledge of classical Latin and of Spanish that these words mean 'last' and 'next' respectively.



How do native speakers use these? They don't. I have never used or heard or read these words in English.



Edit 1



I see from @SamBC that these words appear in English dictionaries with very specialised meanings. I didn't know those meanings and I will not make any attempt to remember them.



Edit 2



It occurs to me that astronomers use 'proxima' as in Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, in the constellation of Centaurus. This is however the name of the star and is not used in general conversation by most people unless they happening to be discussing that particular celestial body.






share|improve this answer

























  • +1. They are very common in my language too.

    – Lucian Sava
    11 hours ago












  • Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago















8















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima is rarely used.



How native speakers use these?




I know from my knowledge of classical Latin and of Spanish that these words mean 'last' and 'next' respectively.



How do native speakers use these? They don't. I have never used or heard or read these words in English.



Edit 1



I see from @SamBC that these words appear in English dictionaries with very specialised meanings. I didn't know those meanings and I will not make any attempt to remember them.



Edit 2



It occurs to me that astronomers use 'proxima' as in Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, in the constellation of Centaurus. This is however the name of the star and is not used in general conversation by most people unless they happening to be discussing that particular celestial body.






share|improve this answer

























  • +1. They are very common in my language too.

    – Lucian Sava
    11 hours ago












  • Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago













8












8








8








I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima is rarely used.



How native speakers use these?




I know from my knowledge of classical Latin and of Spanish that these words mean 'last' and 'next' respectively.



How do native speakers use these? They don't. I have never used or heard or read these words in English.



Edit 1



I see from @SamBC that these words appear in English dictionaries with very specialised meanings. I didn't know those meanings and I will not make any attempt to remember them.



Edit 2



It occurs to me that astronomers use 'proxima' as in Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, in the constellation of Centaurus. This is however the name of the star and is not used in general conversation by most people unless they happening to be discussing that particular celestial body.






share|improve this answer
















I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima is rarely used.



How native speakers use these?




I know from my knowledge of classical Latin and of Spanish that these words mean 'last' and 'next' respectively.



How do native speakers use these? They don't. I have never used or heard or read these words in English.



Edit 1



I see from @SamBC that these words appear in English dictionaries with very specialised meanings. I didn't know those meanings and I will not make any attempt to remember them.



Edit 2



It occurs to me that astronomers use 'proxima' as in Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, in the constellation of Centaurus. This is however the name of the star and is not used in general conversation by most people unless they happening to be discussing that particular celestial body.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 11 hours ago

























answered 11 hours ago









chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,423312




2,423312












  • +1. They are very common in my language too.

    – Lucian Sava
    11 hours ago












  • Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago

















  • +1. They are very common in my language too.

    – Lucian Sava
    11 hours ago












  • Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

    – SamBC
    11 hours ago
















+1. They are very common in my language too.

– Lucian Sava
11 hours ago






+1. They are very common in my language too.

– Lucian Sava
11 hours ago














Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

– SamBC
11 hours ago





Also, "Ultima" is the name of a series of computer games, from back in the day.

– SamBC
11 hours ago











5














In 18th and 19th century business correspondence, these words, invariably abbreviated as "Ult." and "Prox." were often used to mean mean 'of the last month" and "of the next month". Such a letter might run:




In your favor of the 19th ult., you proposed delivery on the 20th prox. The supplies are needed by the 10th prox. at the latest.




(Here "favor" was a polite term for "letter addressed to me" now also obsolete.)



I have not seen this usage in any document later than about 1920, and rarely in any later than 1880. Currently I see them only in historical fiction of that period, or in the star name Proxima Centauri mentioned in other answers.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago











  • @jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

    – David Siegel
    8 hours ago











  • There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

    – Especially Lime
    7 hours ago











  • @Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

    – David Siegel
    7 hours ago
















5














In 18th and 19th century business correspondence, these words, invariably abbreviated as "Ult." and "Prox." were often used to mean mean 'of the last month" and "of the next month". Such a letter might run:




In your favor of the 19th ult., you proposed delivery on the 20th prox. The supplies are needed by the 10th prox. at the latest.




(Here "favor" was a polite term for "letter addressed to me" now also obsolete.)



I have not seen this usage in any document later than about 1920, and rarely in any later than 1880. Currently I see them only in historical fiction of that period, or in the star name Proxima Centauri mentioned in other answers.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago











  • @jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

    – David Siegel
    8 hours ago











  • There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

    – Especially Lime
    7 hours ago











  • @Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

    – David Siegel
    7 hours ago














5












5








5







In 18th and 19th century business correspondence, these words, invariably abbreviated as "Ult." and "Prox." were often used to mean mean 'of the last month" and "of the next month". Such a letter might run:




In your favor of the 19th ult., you proposed delivery on the 20th prox. The supplies are needed by the 10th prox. at the latest.




(Here "favor" was a polite term for "letter addressed to me" now also obsolete.)



I have not seen this usage in any document later than about 1920, and rarely in any later than 1880. Currently I see them only in historical fiction of that period, or in the star name Proxima Centauri mentioned in other answers.






share|improve this answer








New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.










In 18th and 19th century business correspondence, these words, invariably abbreviated as "Ult." and "Prox." were often used to mean mean 'of the last month" and "of the next month". Such a letter might run:




In your favor of the 19th ult., you proposed delivery on the 20th prox. The supplies are needed by the 10th prox. at the latest.




(Here "favor" was a polite term for "letter addressed to me" now also obsolete.)



I have not seen this usage in any document later than about 1920, and rarely in any later than 1880. Currently I see them only in historical fiction of that period, or in the star name Proxima Centauri mentioned in other answers.







share|improve this answer








New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer






New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









answered 10 hours ago









David SiegelDavid Siegel

4066




4066




New contributor




David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






David Siegel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1





    I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago











  • @jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

    – David Siegel
    8 hours ago











  • There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

    – Especially Lime
    7 hours ago











  • @Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

    – David Siegel
    7 hours ago













  • 1





    I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

    – jamesqf
    9 hours ago











  • @jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

    – David Siegel
    8 hours ago











  • There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

    – Especially Lime
    7 hours ago











  • @Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

    – David Siegel
    7 hours ago








1




1





I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

– jamesqf
9 hours ago





I suspect these are not English, but abbreviations for Latin terms, like et. al. or etc.

– jamesqf
9 hours ago













@jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

– David Siegel
8 hours ago





@jamesqf They probably were, in origin at least. But then i would class "etc" and "etcetera" as fully absorbed into English, as i would "I.e." and "e.g." Of course latinisms were more common in English usage at that period than they are now.

– David Siegel
8 hours ago













There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

– Especially Lime
7 hours ago





There was also "inst." for "of this month", which may be slightly better known than the other two. They crop up from time to time in golden age crime fiction, which is where I've seen them.

– Especially Lime
7 hours ago













@Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

– David Siegel
7 hours ago






@Especially Lime Oh yes I'd forgotten that, it stood for "Instant" I believe. Yes, that is one place to see them, and works just later than Jane Austin and of the same genre are another.

– David Siegel
7 hours ago


















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Францішак Багушэвіч Змест Сям'я | Біяграфія | Творчасць | Мова Багушэвіча | Ацэнкі дзейнасці | Цікавыя факты | Спадчына | Выбраная бібліяграфія | Ушанаванне памяці | У філатэліі | Зноскі | Літаратура | Спасылкі | НавігацыяЛяхоўскі У. Рупіўся дзеля Бога і людзей: Жыццёвы шлях Лявона Вітан-Дубейкаўскага // Вольскі і Памідораў з песняй пра немца Адвакат, паэт, народны заступнік Ашмянскі веснікВ Минске появится площадь Богушевича и улица Сырокомли, Белорусская деловая газета, 19 июля 2001 г.Айцец беларускай нацыянальнай ідэі паўстаў у бронзе Сяргей Аляксандравіч Адашкевіч (1918, Мінск). 80-я гады. Бюст «Францішак Багушэвіч».Яўген Мікалаевіч Ціхановіч. «Партрэт Францішка Багушэвіча»Мікола Мікалаевіч Купава. «Партрэт зачынальніка новай беларускай літаратуры Францішка Багушэвіча»Уладзімір Іванавіч Мелехаў. На помніку «Змагарам за родную мову» Барэльеф «Францішак Багушэвіч»Памяць пра Багушэвіча на Віленшчыне Страчаная сталіца. Беларускія шыльды на вуліцах Вільні«Krynica». Ideologia i przywódcy białoruskiego katolicyzmuФранцішак БагушэвічТворы на knihi.comТворы Францішка Багушэвіча на bellib.byСодаль Уладзімір. Францішак Багушэвіч на Лідчыне;Луцкевіч Антон. Жыцьцё і творчасьць Фр. Багушэвіча ў успамінах ягоных сучасьнікаў // Запісы Беларускага Навуковага таварыства. Вільня, 1938. Сшытак 1. С. 16-34.Большая российская1188761710000 0000 5537 633Xn9209310021619551927869394п

На ростанях Змест Гісторыя напісання | Месца дзеяння | Час дзеяння | Назва | Праблематыка трылогіі | Аўтабіяграфічнасць | Трылогія ў тэатры і кіно | Пераклады | У культуры | Зноскі Літаратура | Спасылкі | НавігацыяДагледжаная версіяправерана1 зменаДагледжаная версіяправерана1 зменаАкадэмік МІЦКЕВІЧ Канстанцін Міхайлавіч (Якуб Колас) Прадмова М. І. Мушынскага, доктара філалагічных навук, члена-карэспандэнта Нацыянальнай акадэміі навук Рэспублікі Беларусь, прафесараНашаніўцы ў трылогіі Якуба Коласа «На ростанях»: вобразы і прататыпы125 лет Янке МавруКнижно-документальная выставка к 125-летию со дня рождения Якуба Коласа (1882—1956)Колас Якуб. Новая зямля (паэма), На ростанях (трылогія). Сулкоўскі Уладзімір. Радзіма Якуба Коласа (серыял жывапісных палотнаў)Вокладка кнігіІлюстрацыя М. С. БасалыгіНа ростаняхАўдыёверсія трылогііВ. Жолтак У Люсiнскай школе 1959

Беларусь Змест Назва Гісторыя Геаграфія Сімволіка Дзяржаўны лад Палітычныя партыі Міжнароднае становішча і знешняя палітыка Адміністрацыйны падзел Насельніцтва Эканоміка Культура і грамадства Сацыяльная сфера Узброеныя сілы Заўвагі Літаратура Спасылкі НавігацыяHGЯOiТоп-2011 г. (па версіі ej.by)Топ-2013 г. (па версіі ej.by)Топ-2016 г. (па версіі ej.by)Топ-2017 г. (па версіі ej.by)Нацыянальны статыстычны камітэт Рэспублікі БеларусьШчыльнасць насельніцтва па краінахhttp://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2011/09/16/ic_articles_116_175144/А. Калечыц, У. Ксяндзоў. Спробы засялення краю неандэртальскім чалавекам.І ў Менску былі мамантыА. Калечыц, У. Ксяндзоў. Старажытны каменны век (палеаліт). Першапачатковае засяленне тэрыторыіГ. Штыхаў. Балты і славяне ў VI—VIII стст.М. Клімаў. Полацкае княства ў IX—XI стст.Г. Штыхаў, В. Ляўко. Палітычная гісторыя Полацкай зямліГ. Штыхаў. Дзяржаўны лад у землях-княствахГ. Штыхаў. Дзяржаўны лад у землях-княствахБеларускія землі ў складзе Вялікага Княства ЛітоўскагаЛюблінская унія 1569 г."The Early Stages of Independence"Zapomniane prawdy25 гадоў таму было аб'яўлена, што Язэп Пілсудскі — беларус (фота)Наша вадаДакументы ЧАЭС: Забруджванне тэрыторыі Беларусі « ЧАЭС Зона адчужэнняСведения о политических партиях, зарегистрированных в Республике Беларусь // Министерство юстиции Республики БеларусьСтатыстычны бюлетэнь „Полаўзроставая структура насельніцтва Рэспублікі Беларусь на 1 студзеня 2012 года і сярэднегадовая колькасць насельніцтва за 2011 год“Индекс человеческого развития Беларуси — не было бы нижеБеларусь занимает первое место в СНГ по индексу развития с учетом гендерного факцёраНацыянальны статыстычны камітэт Рэспублікі БеларусьКанстытуцыя РБ. Артыкул 17Трансфармацыйныя задачы БеларусіВыйсце з крызісу — далейшае рэфармаванне Беларускі рубель — сусветны лідар па дэвальвацыяхПра змену коштаў у кастрычніку 2011 г.Бядней за беларусаў у СНД толькі таджыкіСярэдні заробак у верасні дасягнуў 2,26 мільёна рублёўЭканомікаГаласуем за ТОП-100 беларускай прозыСучасныя беларускія мастакіАрхитектура Беларуси BELARUS.BYА. Каханоўскі. Культура Беларусі ўсярэдзіне XVII—XVIII ст.Анталогія беларускай народнай песні, гуказапісы спеваўБеларускія Музычныя IнструментыБеларускі рок, які мы страцілі. Топ-10 гуртоў«Мясцовы час» — нязгаслая легенда беларускай рок-музыкіСЯРГЕЙ БУДКІН. МЫ НЯ ЗНАЕМ СВАЁЙ МУЗЫКІМ. А. Каладзінскі. НАРОДНЫ ТЭАТРМагнацкія культурныя цэнтрыПублічная дыскусія «Беларуская новая пьеса: без беларускай мовы ці беларуская?»Беларускія драматургі па-ранейшаму лепш ставяцца за мяжой, чым на радзіме«Працэс незалежнага кіно пайшоў, і дзяржаву турбуе яго непадкантрольнасць»Беларускія філосафы ў пошуках прасторыВсе идём в библиотекуАрхіваванаАб Нацыянальнай праграме даследавання і выкарыстання касмічнай прасторы ў мірных мэтах на 2008—2012 гадыУ космас — разам.У суседнім з Барысаўскім раёне пабудуюць Камандна-вымяральны пунктСвяты і абрады беларусаў«Мірныя бульбашы з малой краіны» — 5 непраўдзівых стэрэатыпаў пра БеларусьМ. Раманюк. Беларускае народнае адзеннеУ Беларусі скарачаецца колькасць злачынстваўЛукашэнка незадаволены мінскімі ўладамі Крадзяжы складаюць у Мінску каля 70% злачынстваў Узровень злачыннасці ў Мінскай вобласці — адзін з самых высокіх у краіне Генпракуратура аналізуе стан са злачыннасцю ў Беларусі па каэфіцыенце злачыннасці У Беларусі стабілізавалася крымінагеннае становішча, лічыць генпракурорЗамежнікі сталі здзяйсняць у Беларусі больш злачынстваўМУС Беларусі турбуе рост рэцыдыўнай злачыннасціЯ з ЖЭСа. Дазволіце вас абкрасці! Рэйтынг усіх службаў і падраздзяленняў ГУУС Мінгарвыканкама вырасАб КДБ РБГісторыя Аператыўна-аналітычнага цэнтра РБГісторыя ДКФРТаможняagentura.ruБеларусьBelarus.by — Афіцыйны сайт Рэспублікі БеларусьСайт урада БеларусіRadzima.org — Збор архітэктурных помнікаў, гісторыя Беларусі«Глобус Беларуси»Гербы и флаги БеларусиАсаблівасці каменнага веку на БеларусіА. Калечыц, У. Ксяндзоў. Старажытны каменны век (палеаліт). Першапачатковае засяленне тэрыторыіУ. Ксяндзоў. Сярэдні каменны век (мезаліт). Засяленне краю плямёнамі паляўнічых, рыбакоў і збіральнікаўА. Калечыц, М. Чарняўскі. Плямёны на тэрыторыі Беларусі ў новым каменным веку (неаліце)А. Калечыц, У. Ксяндзоў, М. Чарняўскі. Гаспадарчыя заняткі ў каменным векуЭ. Зайкоўскі. Духоўная культура ў каменным векуАсаблівасці бронзавага веку на БеларусіФарміраванне супольнасцей ранняга перыяду бронзавага векуФотографии БеларусиРоля беларускіх зямель ва ўтварэнні і ўмацаванні ВКЛВ. Фадзеева. З гісторыі развіцця беларускай народнай вышыўкіDMOZGran catalanaБольшая российскаяBritannica (анлайн)Швейцарскі гістарычны15325917611952699xDA123282154079143-90000 0001 2171 2080n9112870100577502ge128882171858027501086026362074122714179пппппп