antepenult

noun an·te·pe·nult \ˌan-ti-ˈpē-ˌnəlt, -pi-ˈ\

Definition of ANTEPENULT

: the third syllable of a word counting from the end (as cu in accumulate)

— an·te·pen·ul·ti·mate \-pi-ˈnəl-tə-mət\ adjective or noun

an·te·pe·nult also an·te·pen·ul·ti·ma \-pi-ˈnəl-tə-mə\

Late Latin antepaenultima, feminine of antepaenultimus preceding the next to last, from Latin ante- + paenultimus penultimate

First Known Use: 1552

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