Antepenult

//ˌantiˈpiˌnʌlt// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The third-to-last syllable of a word.

    "This elementary instruction is language at its most advanced to minds trained on the accentuation of the antepenult (multiplicity) and on Sievers-type C2 half-line metrical patterns[.]"

  2. 2
    the 3rd syllable of a word counting back from the end wordnet

Example

More examples

"This elementary instruction is language at its most advanced to minds trained on the accentuation of the antepenult (multiplicity) and on Sievers-type C2 half-line metrical patterns[.]"

Etymology

Either formed from ante- + penult and modelled on Latin or a shortening of Latin antepaenultima/antepēnultima (syllaba).

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.