Origin and history of ultimate

1650s, in theology, "forming the final aim or object" (ultimate purpose etc.), also "beyond which no analysis or discovery is possible;" from Late Latin ultimatus, past participle of ultimare "to be final, come to an end," from Latin ultimus (fem. ultima) "last, final, farthest, most distant, extreme," superlative of *ulter "beyond" (from suffixed form of PIE root *al- "beyond").

As a noun from 1680s. Related: Ultimately; ultimateness; ultimacy. Ultimate Frisbee is attested by 1972.

In special cases it is synonymous with final, except that it implies at least two preceding members, which final does not ; and this circumstance gives the idea of a climax, and so emphasizes ultimate. But more frequently the series to which ultimate refers is a regressive one, so that it is quite opposed to final. Thus ultimate cause means the original cause beyond which no causation can be traced ; but final cause is the end toward which action is directed. [Century Dictionary]