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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?
I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.
How do native speakers use these?
word-request
add a comment |
I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.
How do native speakers use these?
word-request
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
add a comment |
I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.
How do native speakers use these?
word-request
I have noticed that the words ultima and proxima are rarely used.
How do native speakers use these?
word-request
word-request
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
"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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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
|
show 5 more comments
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.
+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
add a comment |
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.
New contributor
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
add a comment |
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4 Answers
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4 Answers
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"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.
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
add a comment |
"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.
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
add a comment |
"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.
"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.
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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.
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
|
show 5 more comments
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.
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
|
show 5 more comments
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.
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.
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
|
show 5 more comments
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
|
show 5 more comments
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.
+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
add a comment |
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.
+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
add a comment |
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.
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.
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
add a comment |
+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
add a comment |
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.
New contributor
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
add a comment |
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.
New contributor
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
add a comment |
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.
New contributor
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.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 10 hours ago
David SiegelDavid Siegel
4066
4066
New contributor
New contributor
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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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