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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

living end en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, qualifier:preceded by the) The most extreme form of something or the final and most impactful development in a series of events — whether favorable or unfavorable
    • I know that sounds cynical, but this latest scandal with cyclist Floyd Landis is the living end. 2006 August 8, Lowell Cohn, “Commentary: Juice up all the athletes”, in Spartanburg Herald-Journal, retrieved 01 Nov 2013, page D2:
    • Hitchcock uses a dazzling bag of tricks in Saboteur (1942)—Sunday at 2 A.M. on Channel 9—and that Statue of Liberty torch-hanger is the living end. 1987 January 25, Howard Thompson, “Critics' Choices: Television”, in New York Times, retrieved 01 Nov 2013:
    • “We don't pretend that this bill is going to be the living end,” Senate President Phil Lewis said. “. . . But hopefully this is landmark legislation.” 1979 April 27, David Powell, “Compromise Workmen's Comp Measure Sent to Governor”, in Lakeland Ledger, retrieved 01 Nov 2013, page 3C:
    • This is the guy who was supposed to be the living end when he came into the NBA in 1959. Yet the Warriors have never been better than second with him. 1963 February 26, Murray Olderman, “Wilt Hurts Warriors Despite High Average”, in Sarasota Journal, retrieved 01 Nov 2013, page 15:
    • “Well, it's the same old sixes and sevens at our house. The children are driving me wild, now that school is out, and I don't know if I really do want to go on living with him. Last night was the living end.” 1996, David Paul Ausubel, Ego: Development and Psychopathology, →ISBN, page 60:
    • “Cat Brules, you're the living end! You're the worst boy I ever seen.” 1995, Harry Combs, Brules, →ISBN, page 76:

Synonyms

high point (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — favorable sense) · breaking point (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — unfavorable sense) · best (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — favorable sense) · last straw (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — unfavorable sense) · culmination (most extreme form or final, most impactful event) · worst (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — unfavorable sense)