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Origin and history of ulterior

ulterior(adj.)

1640s, "on the other side of" any boundary or line, from Latin ulterior "more distant, more remote, farther, on the farther side," comparative of *ulter "beyond" (from suffixed form of PIE root *al- "beyond").

As "last" (of a series of three or more) by 1650s. The sense of "not at present in view or consideration, beyond what is shown or avowed" (as in ulterior motives) is attested by 1735. Related: Ulteriorly.

also from 1640s

Entries linking to ulterior

*al-(2)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to grow, nourish."

It might form all or part of: abolish; adolescent; adult; alderman; aliment; alimony; Alma; alma mater; alt (2) "high tone;" alti-; altimeter; altitude; alto; alumnus; auld; coalesce; elder (adj., n.1); eldest; Eldred; enhance; exalt; haught; haughty; hautboy; hawser; oboe; old; proletarian; proliferation; prolific; world.

It might also be the source of: Greek aldaino "make grow, strengthen," althein, althainein "to get well;" Latin alere "to feed, nourish, suckle; bring up, increase," altus "high," literally "grown tall," almus "nurturing, nourishing," alumnus "fosterling, step-child;" Gothic alþeis, Dutch oud, German alt "old;" Gothic alan "to grow up," Old Norse ala "to nourish;" Old Irish alim "I nourish."

*al-(1)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "beyond."

It might form all or part of: adulteration; adultery; alias; alibi; alien; alienate; alienation; allegory; allele; allergy; allo-; allopathy; allotropy; Alsace; alter; altercation; alternate; alternative; altruism; eldritch; else; hidalgo; inter alia; other; outrage; outrageous; outre; parallax; parallel; subaltern; synallagmatic; ulterior; ultimate; ultra-.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit anya "other, different," arana- "foreign;" Avestan anya-, Armenian ail "another;" Greek allos "other, different, strange;" Latin alius "another, other, different," alter "the other (of two)," ultra "beyond, on the other side;" Gothic aljis "other," Old English elles "otherwise, else," German ander "other."