non plus ultra

See also: Non Plus Ultra

Dutch

Etymology

From Latin non plus ultra, the name given to the type by the Enschedé Foundry in Haarlem, who first cut it.

Noun

non plus ultra

1. (printing, dated) a small size of type, equivalent to 2 point

Synonyms

• vierde petit

Descendants

• → German: Non Plus Ultra

Italian

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin nōn plūs ultra.

Noun

non plus ultra m (invariable)

1. the very best, the ne plus ultra

Further reading

• non plus ultra in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Latin

Pillars of Hercules, Germany, 16th c.

Alternative forms

• ne plus ultra

Etymology

Literally, “nothing further beyond”, nōn (“not”) + plūs (“more”) + ultrā (“beyond”). An ancient post-classical Mediterranean aphorism, fabulously alleged to have been inscribed somewhere upon the Pillars of Hercules as a warning to ships to sail no further. Adopted during the Renaissance as a metaphor for the stifling influence of ancient philosophy on the progress of thought. Compare Gādēs.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /noːn pluːs ˈul.traː/, [noːn pɫ̪uːs̠ ˈʊɫ̪t̪räː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /non plus ˈul.tra/, [nɔn plus ˈul̪t̪rä]

Phrase

nōn plūs ultra

1. A warning to not go beyond (this point).

Derived terms

• plus ultrā

Descendants

• → Dutch: non plus ultra
  • → German: Non Plus Ultra
• → English: ne plus ultra
• → French: non plus ultra
• → German: Nonplusultra
• → Italian: non plus ultra

See also

• here be dragons