sb. Pl. -ata. [ad. late L. ultimātum, neut. sing. of ultimātus, pa. pple. of ultimāre: see ULTIMATE v.1 So in F., It., Pg., G., Du., etc.]
1. In diplomacy, the final terms presented by one power (or group of powers) to another, the rejection of which may lead to the severing of diplomatic relations, and eventually to a declaration of war.
sing. 1731. Gentl. Mag., Jan., 39/1. There are privately handed about here Copies of the Ultimatum (or last Proposals) of the Allies of Seville, as transmitted hither from Paris.
1759. Smollett, Hist. Eng., VIII. (ed. 3), IX. 143. He delivered to the mediator an ultimatum, importing, That he adhered to the treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen.
1784–5. Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe, 107/1. A new statement of the emperor’s claims and demands, described as his ultimatum, was presented to the Dutch ministers.
1832. trans. Sismondi’s Ital. Rep., xiii. 287. Charles still insisted on disgraceful conditions, which his secretary read as his ultimatum.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., VI. lviii. 482. Fitzherbert … reflected that peace with the United States would be the best means of forcing France and Spain to declare their ultimatum.
pl. 1773. Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe, 40/2. The delegates were also appointed … to receive the ultimata of the three powers.
1796. Hamilton, Wks. (1886), VII. 121. In general, where more had been obtained by a treaty than the ultimata prescribed to the negotiator, it would be inexpedient to publish those ultimata.
1859. L. Oliphant, China & Japan, I. 98. Mr. Wade … proceeded … to Canton, and delivered the ultimata of the French and English plenipotentiaries.
1883. Harper’s Mag., April, 676/1, note. Different ultimata had been adopted with respect to the boundaries.
b. transf. A final condition or stipulation; one’s last word on a matter.
1733. Swift, Lett. to Pope, 31 March. But, there must be some stipulations for my riding, with other necessary postulatums, and ultimatums.
1787. M. Cutler, in Life, etc. (1888), I. 299. We therefore begged leave to state to the Board the terms on which we were ready to close the contract, and that those terms must be our Ultimatum.
1813. Examiner, 11 Jan., 23/1. His Lordship would require, as the ultimatum,… that a competent portion of the natives shall perform duty under British Officers.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xl. I have stated my ultimatum, Madam.
1869. Trollope, He knew, etc., xxxvii. (1878), 207. The official shrugged his shoulders and signified that his ultimatum had been pronounced.
2. The final point, extreme limit; an ultimate end or aim.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1768), III. 53. That single pressure … delighted me more than ever I was delighted with the Ultimatum with any other woman.
1793. R. Willett, in Archaeologia, XI. 196. The size of our ships seems now to have reached nearly its ultimatum.
1804. Jebb, Corr. (1834), I. 153. And now I will tell you an ultimatum, which I would far prefer,… the librarianship of Armagh.
1804. Eugenia de Acton, Tale without Title, II. 26. Their ultimatum was obtained, and they were considered as persons of consequence.
b. Const. of.
1770. Monthly Rev., 502. This surely is the ultimatum of astronomical precision.
1790. Bystander, 308. The ultimatum of earthly enjoyment was to give him invitations to their houses.
1802. Mrs. E. Parsons, Myst. Visit, I. 132. To be married was still the ultimatum of her wishes.
1812. Shelley, Proposals, Pr. Wks. 1888, I. 280. The attainment of the good which I propose as the ultimatum of philanthropic exertion.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. x. 114. At last we came to the Esquimaux ultimatum of simplicity,—raw meat and a fur bag.
1888. J. Ellis, New Christianity, ii. 51. If … all chemical and mechanical changes, or effects, are but the ultimatum of spiritual causes.
c. Final lot or destiny. rare–1.
1861. G. Moore, Lost Tribes, iv. 84. To trace the meaning of God’s handwriting concerning the origin and ultimatum of our race.
† 3. slang. The hinder parts; the buttocks. Obs.
1823. C. Westmacott, Points of Misery, iii. 31. Old Brummagem and the fat lady being thrown head downwards, formed an excellent step-ladder with their ultimatums for the purpose.
1824. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1825), 38. He … at the same time felt his spinal extremities and his ultimatum covered by a shower of slimy material of a very offensive odour.
1825. C. Westmacott, Eng. Spy, I. 165. As for the inexpressibles they hung round his ultimatum like petticoat trousers.
4. A primary element, beyond which analysis becomes impossible; something fundamental.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breaks.-t., i. (1859), 10. No men can have satisfactory relations with each other until they have agreed on certain ultimata of belief not to be disturbed in ordinary conversation.
1867. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., i. 22. The truth is, that all our scientific investigations will never conduct us to the ultimatum—the commencement of matter.
1868. Bain, Ment. & Mor. Sci., Ethics, II. 498. Sensible Perception,… whereby we perceive that the triangle before us is a geometrical ultimatum.
5. Furthest destination; most distant point (to be) reached.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XI. ii. III. 44. Almost to the coast of the Baltic; their ultimatum there a place called Köslin.
Hence Ultimatum v. trans., to present with an ultimatum. (Cf. ULTIMATE v.2)
1897. Pall Mall G., 23 Sept., 2. General Woodford never ultimatumed the fiery untamed Duke of Tetuan.
