Word: Penultimate
Part of Speech: Adjective (also used as a noun)
Definition:
Adjective: "Penultimate" means something that is second to last in a sequence. For example, if you have a list of items, the item that comes right before the last one is the penultimate item.
Noun: In linguistics, it can refer to the next-to-last syllable in a word.
Usage Instructions:
Use "penultimate" when you want to describe something that is right before the final one. It can be used in various contexts, such as books, lists, and sequences.
Examples:
Adjective: "The author inadvertently reveals the murderer in the penultimate chapter." (This means in the chapter before the last one.)
Noun: In the word "banana," the penultimate syllable is "na."
Advanced Usage:
Word Variants:
Different Meanings:
Synonyms:
Second to last
Next to last
Almost final
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "penultimate," you can think of it in phrases like: - "In the runner-up position," which might imply something similar in competitive contexts.
Summary:
"Penultimate" is a useful word to describe something that is right before the last in a sequence, whether that is in a book, a list, or even in language.