antepenult

noun

an·​te·​pe·​nult ˌan-ti-ˈpē-ˌnəlt How to pronounce antepenult (audio) -pi-ˈnəlt How to pronounce antepenult (audio)
variants or less commonly antepenultima
ˌan-ti-pi-ˈnəl-tə-mə How to pronounce antepenult (audio)
: the third syllable of a word counting from the end (such as cu in accumulate)
antepenultimate
ˌan-ti-pi-ˈnəl-tə-mət How to pronounce antepenult (audio)
adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin antepaenultima, feminine of antepaenultimus preceding the next to last, from Latin ante- + paenultimus penultimate

First Known Use

circa 1620, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antepenult was circa 1620

Dictionary Entries Near antepenult

antependium

antepenult

antepirrhema

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Antepenult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antepenult. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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