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












9















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



How do native speakers use these?










share|improve this question




















  • 7





    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
    14 hours ago






  • 5





    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
    12 hours ago






  • 3





    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
    9 hours ago
















9















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



How do native speakers use these?










share|improve this question




















  • 7





    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
    14 hours ago






  • 5





    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
    12 hours ago






  • 3





    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
    9 hours ago














9












9








9


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 13 hours ago









Jasper

18.6k43671




18.6k43671










asked 16 hours ago









Kumar sadhuKumar sadhu

398112




398112








  • 7





    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
    14 hours ago






  • 5





    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
    12 hours ago






  • 3





    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
    9 hours ago














  • 7





    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
    14 hours ago






  • 5





    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
    12 hours ago






  • 3





    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
    9 hours ago








7




7





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
14 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
14 hours ago




5




5





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
12 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
12 hours ago




3




3





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
9 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
9 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















22














"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



















  • 5





    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
    6 hours ago











  • @Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

    – jamesqf
    1 hour ago











  • "Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

    – MooseBoys
    36 mins ago



















17














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
    15 hours ago













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

    – ColleenV
    15 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    14 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
    14 hours ago






  • 8





    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
    13 hours ago





















9















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
    14 hours ago













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

    – SamBC
    14 hours ago



















7














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
    12 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
    12 hours ago






  • 1





    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
    10 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
    10 hours ago













  • Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

    – Anton Sherwood
    3 hours ago











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4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes








4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









22














"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



















  • 5





    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
    6 hours ago











  • @Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

    – jamesqf
    1 hour ago











  • "Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

    – MooseBoys
    36 mins ago
















22














"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



















  • 5





    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
    6 hours ago











  • @Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

    – jamesqf
    1 hour ago











  • "Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

    – MooseBoys
    36 mins ago














22












22








22







"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 13 hours ago









JasperJasper

18.6k43671




18.6k43671








  • 5





    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
    6 hours ago











  • @Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

    – jamesqf
    1 hour ago











  • "Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

    – MooseBoys
    36 mins ago














  • 5





    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
    6 hours ago











  • @Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

    – jamesqf
    1 hour ago











  • "Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

    – MooseBoys
    36 mins ago








5




5





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
6 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
6 hours ago













@Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

– jamesqf
1 hour ago





@Xavon_Wrentaile: That depends on one's particular subculture. I know ultima from the name "Ultima Thule" in astronomy & history, but nothing about on-line games/

– jamesqf
1 hour ago













"Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

– MooseBoys
36 mins ago





"Perhaps it was the penultimate supper?"

– MooseBoys
36 mins ago













17














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
    15 hours ago













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

    – ColleenV
    15 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    14 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
    14 hours ago






  • 8





    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
    13 hours ago


















17














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
    15 hours ago













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

    – ColleenV
    15 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    14 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
    14 hours ago






  • 8





    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
    13 hours ago
















17












17








17







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 14 hours ago

























answered 15 hours ago









SamBCSamBC

12.5k1546




12.5k1546













  • 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
    15 hours ago













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

    – ColleenV
    15 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    14 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
    14 hours ago






  • 8





    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
    13 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
    15 hours ago













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

    – ColleenV
    15 hours ago











  • No, they are extremely common.

    – Gustavson
    14 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
    14 hours ago






  • 8





    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
    13 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
15 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
15 hours ago















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

– ColleenV
15 hours ago





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

– ColleenV
15 hours ago













No, they are extremely common.

– Gustavson
14 hours ago





No, they are extremely common.

– Gustavson
14 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
14 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
14 hours ago




8




8





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
13 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
13 hours ago













9















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
    14 hours ago













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

    – SamBC
    14 hours ago
















9















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
    14 hours ago













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

    – SamBC
    14 hours ago














9












9








9








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 14 hours ago

























answered 15 hours ago









chasly from UKchasly from UK

2,433312




2,433312













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

    – Lucian Sava
    14 hours ago













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

    – SamBC
    14 hours ago



















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

    – Lucian Sava
    14 hours ago













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

    – SamBC
    14 hours ago

















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

– Lucian Sava
14 hours ago







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

– Lucian Sava
14 hours ago















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

– SamBC
14 hours ago





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

– SamBC
14 hours ago











7














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
    12 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
    12 hours ago






  • 1





    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
    10 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
    10 hours ago













  • Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

    – Anton Sherwood
    3 hours ago
















7














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
    12 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
    12 hours ago






  • 1





    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
    10 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
    10 hours ago













  • Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

    – Anton Sherwood
    3 hours ago














7












7








7







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 13 hours ago









David SiegelDavid Siegel

4557




4557




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
    12 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
    12 hours ago






  • 1





    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
    10 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
    10 hours ago













  • Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

    – Anton Sherwood
    3 hours ago














  • 1





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

    – jamesqf
    12 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
    12 hours ago






  • 1





    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
    10 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
    10 hours ago













  • Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

    – Anton Sherwood
    3 hours ago








1




1





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

– jamesqf
12 hours ago





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

– jamesqf
12 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
12 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
12 hours ago




1




1





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
10 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
10 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
10 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
10 hours ago















Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

– Anton Sherwood
3 hours ago





Reginald Perrin (title character of a sitcom, 1976–79) used “ult.” in dictating letters (at least in the first series).

– Anton Sherwood
3 hours ago


















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