ultimatum

(ŭl'tə-mā'təm, -mä'-)

1. A final statement of terms made by one party to another.
2. A statement, especially in diplomatic negotiations, that expresses or implies the threat of serious penalties if the terms are not accepted.

[New Latin, from neuter of Latin ultimātus, last. See ultimate.]

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n. pl. ultimatums or ultimata a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations: the U.N. Security Council ultimatum demanding Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A formal message delivered from one government to another threatening war if the receiving government fails to comply with conditions set forth in the message. For example, after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand in 1914, the government of Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia, which Austria held responsible for the assassination.

n.

In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.

Having received an ultimatum from Austria, the Turkish Ministry met to consider it.

"O servant of the Prophet," said the Sheik of the Imperial Chibouk to the Mamoosh of the Invincible Army, "how many unconquerable soldiers have we in arms?"

"Upholder of the Faith," that dignitary replied after examining his memoranda, "they are in numbers as the leaves of the forest!"

"And how many impenetrable battleships strike terror to the hearts of all Christian swine?" he asked the Imaum of the Ever Victorious Navy.

"Uncle of the Full Moon," was the reply, "deign to know that they are as the waves of the ocean, the sands of the desert and the stars of Heaven!"

For eight hours the broad brow of the Sheik of the Imperial Chibouk was corrugated with evidences of deep thought: he was calculating the chances of war. Then, "Sons of angels," he said, "the die is cast! I shall suggest to the Ulema of the Imperial Ear that he advise inaction. In the name of Allah, the council is adjourned."

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For other uses, see Ultimatum (disambiguation).

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An ultimatum (Latin: the last one) is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance. An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series of requests. As such, the time allotted is usually short, and the request is understood not to be open to further negotiation.

The threat which backs up the ultimatum can vary depending on the demand in question and on the other circumstances. The following are commonly encountered:

• in diplomacy, the threat to declare war, to take other military action or to impose sanctions such as trade restrictions or embargoes.
• in a kidnapping, the threat by the kidnappers that they will kill the hostages if their demands are not met

In everyday life, ultimatums are also sometimes made in various contexts, such as in:

• a legal proceeding (e.g. the demand to strike a plea bargain or face a trial)
• a business relationship (e.g. the demand to accept a certain price or to forgo the deal)
• a labor dispute (e.g. the demand to grant a hike in salaries or another improvement in the employees' conditions, or face a strike)
• a marital affair (e.g.the demand to stop the affair or face divorce proceedings.)

Such ultimatums may or may not be legal and/or socially acceptable. Ultimatums are also a regular part of the crime of extortion.

External links

The Wiktionary entry for ultimatum

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "ultimatum". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - ultimatum

Nederlands (Dutch)
ultimatum (uiterste grens)

Français (French)
n. - ultimatum

Deutsch (German)
n. - Ultimatum

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - τελεσίγραφο

Italiano (Italian)
ultimatum

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ultimato (m)

Русский (Russian)
ультиматум, конечная цель

Español (Spanish)
n. - ultimátum

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - ultimatum

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
最后的话, 基本原理, 最后通牒

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 最後的話, 基本原理, 最後通牒

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 마지막 조건, 최후 통첩

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 最後のことば, 究極

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) انذار نهائي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮דרישה אחרונה למילוי תנאים ע"י אחד הצדדים בסכסוך, אולטימטום‬

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