Both Uses
ultimate
in
The Idiot
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- Varvara Ardalionovna married Ptitsin this winter, and it was said that the fact of Gania's retirement from business was the ultimate cause of the marriage, since Gania was now not only unable to support his family, but even required help himself.†
Chpt 2.1ultimate = most extreme as in final, best, worst, most important, or most fundamental
- Well, this strange circumstance—which I have described with so much detail—was the ultimate cause which led me to taking my final determination.†
Chpt 3.6 *
Definitions:
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(1)
(ultimate) most extreme as in final, best, worst, most important, or most fundamentalThe 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
- (2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)