Final ultimatum

Posted by Aka_darrell March 19, 2003In reply to Final ultimatum posted by kate on March 17, 2003

What's wrong with this headline?

Bush Plans Final Ultimatum (cbsnews.com)

From Merriam-Webster online
Main Entry: ul·ti·ma·tum
Pronunciation: "&l-t&-'mA-t&m, -'mä-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -tums or ul·ti·ma·ta /-t&/
Etymology: New Latin, from Medieval Latin, neuter of ultimatus final
Date: 1731

a final proposition, condition, or demand; especially : one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action

Final ultimatum - vs. maybe, opening or first ultimatum. Really...an ultimatum is an ultimatum. No need to make it final!

In the US academic entertainment has a history of facetiously playing around with the word ultimadum. CBS news may have been quoting "W" and "W" , really, might not have know the difference between an ultimatum and facetiousness.