Pros. [L. (syllaba) antepænultima the last (syllable) but two, f. ante before + pænultima last but one, f. pæne almost + ultima last. Formerly with Eng. pl. in -s.] The last syllable but two of a word.
1581. Sidney, Def. Poesie (1622), 529. The French … hath not one word that hath his accent in the last syllable sauing two, called Antepenultima.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 92. In altitude and heauinesse the sharpe accent falles vpon al and he which be the antepenultimaes.
1874. Sayce, Comp. Philol., i. 19. The general rule [of Æolic dialect] which threw the accent back upon the antepenultima.
