01 a. Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term.
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1.
Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term.“Yet despair not of his final pardon.” — Milton.
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2.
Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue.
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3.
Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view.
Phrases & compounds
Final cause —
See under Cause.
Syn.
Final, Conclusive, Ultimate.
Final is now appropriated to that which brings with it an end; as, a final adjustment; the final judgment, etc. Conclusive implies the closing of all discussion, negotiation, etc.; as, a conclusive argument or fact; a conclusive arrangement. In using ultimate, we have always reference to something earlier or proceeding; as when we say, a temporary reverse may lead to an ultimate triumph. The statements which a man finally makes at the close of a negotiation are usually conclusive as to his ultimate intentions and designs.