penult
[
pee
-nuhlt, pi-
nuhlt
]
/ˈpi nʌlt, pɪˈnʌlt/
noun
1.
the next to the last syllable in a word.
Also,
penultima
[pi-
nuhl
-t
uh
-m
uh
]
/pɪˈnʌl tə mə/
(
Show IPA
)
.
Origin
1530-40;
<
Latin
paenultima
(
syllaba
), contraction of
paene ultima
almost the last; see
pen-
,
ultima
British Dictionary definitions for
penult
penult
/
ˈpɛnʌlt;
pɪˈnʌlt
/
noun
1.
the last syllable but one in a word
Word Origin
C16: Latin
paenultima syllaba,
from
paene ultima
almost the last
Word Origin and History for
penult
adj.
"last but one," 1530s, abbreviation of
penultima
. As a noun from 1570s.