antepenultimatum

English

Etymology

ante- +‎ penultimatum

Noun

antepenultimatum (plural antepenultimatums or antepenultimata)

1. (diplomacy, commonly satirical) A statement of terms or conditions made by one party to another, essentially a penultimatum, but even more tentative and more repeatedly abandoned in favour of subsequent ignominious compromises.
   • 1853 Diogenes - Issue 2706, Volume 2 - Page 14

     THE RUSSIAN ULTIMATUM. We are constantly hearing of some fresh ultimatum being proposed by the Russian Government, so that what was considered a fortnight since the real ultimatum, must, now that another has been offered, be called the penultimatum; and next week, when a third one will probably have been suggested, we shall find that the original ultimatum was, in fact, only an antepenultimatum.

   • 1898 Ambrose Bierce: Fantastic fables

     "If you do not submit my claim to arbitration," wrote the President of Omohu to the President of Modugy, "I shall take immediate steps to collect it in my own way!"
     "Sir," replied the President of Modugy, "you may go to the devil with your threat of war."
     "My great and good friend," wrote the other, "you mistake the character of my communication. It is an antepenultimatum."