In my household, we’ve been watching the Public Broadcasting Service series, “Sanditon.” It’s based on an unfinished novel by Jane Austin – the last of her writings before she died. It’s set in England, of course, with strong and conflicted heroines.
Anyway, a social media announcement for last Sunday’s program said it was time to watch “the penultimate episode of Sanditon!”
I got all excited and told Russ that the best-ever episode of Sanditon was coming up. In our ensuing discussion I discovered that the word “penultimate” does not mean the ultra-ultimate of something like I had been thinking all these decades. Instead, it simply means it’s the next to last episode.
I was so disappointed. Not only because the series is ending and because the episode wasn’t going to be the best-ever, but because I’d been misinterpreting this word for so long. I don’t think I’d ever actually used the word anywhere, but it was a quite a blow to someone who is a writer.
I had fun thinking up a title for this post. Does the title mean this is the second to last mistake I will ever make in my life, or does it mean I am mistaken about the word penultimate? Or does it mean I’ve made the best mistake ever? 😊
Marie's Meanderings 
Time will tell. 😆😉
I’ve been enjoying this series , as well. This season is MUCH better than last, where they seemed to get lost in the story lines.
This season, they choose to explore character conflicts and outcomes that reflect 21st century concerns…as Wise Jane might have done, were she writing today. ❤
Hi Liz! Yes, we love how they are dealing with more modern issues this season. Although some of them are so complicated, they seem to never get resolved IRL no matter what century it is! I’m also watching Marie Antionette and am enjoying that.
Can I also add that I had a hard time, last season, not giggling every time at Charlotte’s main love interest. He reminded me of Andy Kauffman in looks. Ah irreverence…still enjoying the series! ❤
Oh, I can see how that would be distracting. Thankfully, I did not make that association. 🙂
Hi. Maybe you should use the word “penultimate” in a future story. That word is pretty cool.
Oh yes, great idea! Now I just need to create the right conditions for it.
Two days after reading this post, I was reading an article about writing and the author used the word penultimate!
Perfect! Now I suppose you’ll be seeing it everywhere. 🙂
Just wait until you look up the meanings of antepenultimate and the rest of that word family.
My mind is blown! I have never heard that word before (which, for the curious, means “the third syllable of a word counting from the end”). Apparently, we were never taught such fancy phrases in Duluth.
gotta love that high-falutin’ talking
I guess we both learned something new. Thanks for sharing your mistake with humor and grace.
Yes, learning hurts sometimes! Thanks for commenting and for visiting my blog.