antepenultimate

/ˌæntipɪˈnʌltəmɪt/

Other forms: antepenultimates

Something that's antepenultimate is the third from the last. If you're the antepenultimate fan in line at a book signing, there are only two people standing behind you.

Ultimate is the last or best, penultimate is the second to last, and finally antepenultimate is the third from last. This fancy adjective comes from the Latin linguistic term antepaenultima, "third from last syllable in a word," and its roots are ante, "before," paene, "almost," and ultima, "last." Want to sound impressive? Try using it when you're reading your favorite book: "I’m on the antepenultimate chapter — just two more to go before the book ends!"

Definitions of antepenultimate

1. adjective

   third from last
   synonyms:

   intermediate

   lying between two extremes in time or space or state
2. noun

   the 3rd syllable of a word counting back from the end
   synonyms: antepenult, antepenultima

   type of:

   syllable

   a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme