Definition of NE PLUS ULTRA

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It's the height, the zenith, the ultimate, the crown, the pinnacle. It's the peak, the summit, the crest, the high-water mark. All these expressions, of course, mean "the highest point attainable." But ne plus ultra may top them all when it comes to expressing in a sophisticated way that something is the pink of perfection. It is said that the term's predecessor, non plus ultra, was inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules at the Strait of Gibraltar, which marked the western end of the classical world. The phrase served as a warning: "(Let there) not (be) more (sailing) beyond." The New Latin version ne plus ultra, meaning "(go) no more beyond," found its way into English in the 1630s.

Examples of ne plus ultra in a Sentence

this new sports car is being billed as the ne plus ultra of automotive achievement

Recent Examples on the Web Paulius Nasvytis’ graciously upscale ne plus ultra cocktail lounge that re-ignited the speakeasy trend in Cleveland is scheduled to open August 1. — Beth Segal, cleveland, "Modern mocktails from Greater Cleveland’s top cocktail bars: Imbibing during the new new normal," 5 June 2020 If the former is the ne plus ultra of customer racing cars and the latter the nth-degree GT, the Elva means to carve out an experiential space in between, said Ian Digman, McLaren... — Dan Neil, WSJ, "Why Supercars Are Doing Away with Windshields," 14 Mar. 2020 Last night, revelers crowded 51 Quai des Grands Augustins, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, for the grand reopening of Lapérouse—one of the ne plus ultra of old-world Parisian eateries. — Marley Marius, Vogue, "Famed Left Bank Eatery Lapérouse Reopens With a Decadent Dinner," 20 June 2019 In the world of international racing heading into the 1960s, nobody could touch Ferrari, the ne plus ultra of fast car makers. — Todd Mccarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Ford v Ferrari': Film Review | Telluride 2019," 31 Aug. 2019 At last week’s haute joaillerie showings, there was no shortage of moneyed clients reserving the one-of-a-kind jewels that represent the ne plus ultra of a luxury house’s artistry and handcraftsmanship. — Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, "The Latest Red Carpet-Ready Looks From Paris High-Jewelry Collections," 8 July 2019 With their very millennial digital fluency and unique celebrity nexus between the worlds of fashion and music, the similarity between the Ferragnez and Kimye—the ne plus ultra of social media power couples—has not been lost on them. — Alison S. Cohn, Harper's BAZAAR, "Chiara Ferragni's Secret to Winning on Social Media," 18 Apr. 2019 In the pantheon of iconic shoes, Adidas Stan Smiths are the unassuming ne plus ultra. — Monica Kim, Vogue, "A New Photo Book Celebrates the Iconic Stan Smith—Both Man and Shoe," 31 Aug. 2018 This is probably the place to mention that the crocheted sweater is no longer the ne plus ultra of canine and feline fashion. — Peter Haldeman, New York Times, "The Secret Price of Pets," 4 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ne plus ultra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Ne plus ultra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ne%20plus%20ultra. Accessed 8 Aug. 2020.