ultimatum

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ul=ti=ma=tum

CIDE DICTIONARY

ultimatum, n. [NL. See Ultimate.].

•  A final proposition, concession, or condition; especially, the final propositions, conditions, or terms, offered by either of the parties in a diplomatic negotiation; the most favorable terms that a negotiator can offer, the rejection of which usually puts an end to the hesitation.  [1913 Webster]
•  A final demand, the rejection of which may lead to a resort to force or other compelling action by the party presenting the ultimatum. In international diplomacy, an ultimatum may be used as by the demanding country as a signal to other countries that it gave the other country a seemingly reasonable opportunity to avoid a war; in this way, the demanding country may seek to avoid responsibility for starting a war.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ultimatum, n. (pl. ultimatums or ultimata) a final demand or statement of terms by one party, the rejection of which by another could cause a breakdown in relations, war, or an end of cooperation etc.

Etymology

L neut. past part.: see ULTIMATE

DEVIL DICTIONARY

ultimatum

n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.
Having received an ultimatum from Austria, the Turkish Ministry met to consider it.
"O servant of the Prophet," said the Sheik of the Imperial Chibouk to the Mamoosh of the Invincible Army, "how many unconquerable soldiers have we in arms?"
"Upholder of the Faith," that dignitary replied after examining his memoranda, "they are in numbers as the leaves of the forest!"
"And how many impenetrable battleships strike terror to the hearts of all Christian swine?" he asked the Imaum of the Ever Victorious Navy.
"Uncle of the Full Moon," was the reply, "deign to know that they are as the waves of the ocean, the sands of the desert and the stars of Heaven!"
For eight hours the broad brow of the Sheik of the Imperial Chibouk was corrugated with evidences of deep thought: he was calculating the chances of war. Then, "Sons of angels," he said, "the die is cast! I shall suggest to the Ulema of the Imperial Ear that he advise inaction. In the name of Allah, the council is adjourned."

THESAURUS

ultimatum

admonishment, admonition, alarm, blackmail, boundary condition, call, call for, catch, caution, caveat, claim, clause, condition, conditions, contribution, demand, demand for, demands, deterrent example, donnee, draft, drain, duty, escalator clause, escape clause, escape hatch, exaction, example, extortion, extortionate demand, final notice, final offer, final warning, fine print, firm price, given, grounds, heavy demand, hint, imposition, impost, indent, insistent demand, joker, kicker, last word, lesson, levy, limiting condition, monition, moral, nonnegotiable demand, notice, notification, object lesson, obligation, order, parameter, prerequisite, provision, provisions, proviso, requirement, requisite, requisition, rush, rush order, saving clause, sine qua non, small print, specification, stipulation, stipulations, string, tax, taxing, terms, threat, tip-off, tribute, verbum sapienti, warning, warning piece, whereas

ROGET THESAURUS

ultimatum

Intention

N intent, intention, intentionality, purpose, quo animo, project, undertaking, predetermination, design, ambition, contemplation, mind, animus, view, purview, proposal, study, look out, final cause, raison d'etre, cui bono, object, aim, end, the be all and the end all, drift, tendency, destination, mark, point, butt, goal, target, bull's-eye, quintain, prey, quarry, game, decision, determination, resolve, fixed set purpose, settled purpose, ultimatum, resolution, wish, arriere pensee, motive, teleology, intended, intentional, advised, express, determinate, prepense, bound for, intending, minded, bent upon, at stake, on the anvil, on the tapis, in view, in prospect, in the breast of, in petto, teleological, intentionally, advisedly, wittingly, knowingly, designedly, purposely, on purpose, by design, studiously, pointedly, with intent, deliberately, with one's eyes open, in cold blood, for, with a view, with an eye to, in order to, in order that, to the end that, with the intent that, for the purpose of, with the view of, in contemplation of, on account of, in pursuance of, pursuant to, quo animo, to all intents and purposes, The road to hell is paved with good intentions, sublimi feriam sidera vertice.

Command

N command, order, ordinance, act, fiat, hukm, bidding, dictum, hest, behest, call, beck, nod, despatch, dispatch, message, direction, injunction, charge, instructions, appointment, fixture, demand, exaction, imposition, requisition, claim, reclamation, revendication, ultimatum, request, requirement, dictation, dictate, mandate, caveat, decree, senatus consultum, precept, prescript, rescript, writ, ordination, bull, ex cathedra pronouncement, edict, decretal, dispensation, prescription, brevet, placit, ukase, ukaz, firman, hatti- sherif, warrant, passport, mittimus, mandamus, summons, subpoena, nisi prius, interpellation, citation, word, word of command, mot d'ordre, bugle call, trumpet call, beat of drum, tattoo, order of the day, enactment, plebiscite, commanding, authoritative, decretory, decretive, decretal, callable, jussive, in a commanding tone, by a stroke of the pen, by a dash of the pen, by order, at beat of drum, on the first summons, the decree is gone forth, sic volo sic jubeo, le Roi le veut, boutez en avant.

Conditions

N conditions, terms, articles, articles of agreement, memorandum, clauses, provisions, proviso, covenant, stipulation, obligation, ultimatum, sine qua non, casus foederris, conditional, provisional, guarded, fenced, hedged in, conditionally, provisionally, pro re nata, on condition, with a string to it.