All 4 Uses of
ultimate
in
The Scarlet Letter
- Even yet, though my thoughts were ultimately much absorbed in the task, it wears, to my eye, a stern and sombre aspect: too much ungladdened by genial sunshine; too little relieved by the tender and familiar influences which soften almost every scene of nature and real life, and undoubtedly should soften every picture of them.†
p. 34.7ultimately = finally; or in the end
- After testing both smiles and frowns, and proving that neither mode of treatment possessed any calculable influence, Hester was ultimately compelled to stand aside and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses.†
p. 63.9 *
- If the child, on the other hand, were really capable of moral and religious growth, and possessed the elements of ultimate salvation, then, surely, it would enjoy all the fairer prospect of these advantages by being transferred to wiser and better guardianship than Hester Prynne's.†
p. 69.4ultimate = most extreme as in final, best, worst, most important, or most fundamental
- As is apt to be the case when a person stands out in any prominence before the community, and, at the same time, interferes neither with public nor individual interests and convenience, a species of general regard had ultimately grown up in reference to Hester Prynne.†
p. 107.8ultimately = finally; or in the end
Definition:
most extreme as in final, best, worst, most important, or most fundamental
The exact meaning of ultimate depends upon its context. For example:
- "the ultimate decision-maker" -- the final
- "the ultimate car" -- the best
- "the ultimate insult" -- the worst
- "the ultimate source" -- original or most fundamental
- "the ultimate sacrifice" -- most extreme