acme

plural acmes · alternative obsolete achma · alternative obsolete acmè · alternative obsolete akme · alternative obsolete achme

1. A high point: the highest point of any range, the most developed stage of any process, or the culmination of any field or historical period.First known use c. 1610

   The moment when a certain power reaches the acme of its supremacy.

   1832, [Isaac Taylor], Saturday Evening. […], London: Holdsworth and Ball, →OCLC

   3 more examples

   The Latin tong, euen whan it was, as the Grecians say, in ακμη, that is, at the hiest pitch of all perfitenesse.

   1570, Roger Ascham, The Scholemaster, f. 31

   Eum.: Our Loves what are they But howerly Sacrifices, only wanting The prease and tumult of Solemnity? If then i'th' heat and Achme of Devotion We drink a new fiame in, can it be ought But to increase the Worship?

   1651, William Cartwright, “The Lady Errant”, in Comedies Tragi-comedies with Other Poems

   Ah, what a sight burst upon our astonished eyes as we gained its summit! It seemed the very acme of mountain glory in all the glories around us.

   1891, George Edward Mannering, With Axe and Rope in the New Zealand Alps, Chapter VII, p. 71

   Synonyms: apex, zenith, apogee, apotheosis, ascendance, capstone, climax, coronation

2. A paragon: a person or thing representing such a high point.First known use c. 1610

   The few words of advice she gave him as to escaping political embarrassments, struck him as the acme of wisdom, and as indicating an interest in his well-being of the kindest description;...

   1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 260–261

3. rareFull bloom or reproductive maturity.

   The very acme and pitch of life for epic poesy.

   1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC

   1 more example

   He must be one that can instruct your youth, And keep your acme in the state of truth

   1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

4. euphemisticSexual orgasm.

   He reached a climax about one minute after penetration and as this was always much sooner than his partner reached her acme this disturbed him.

   2012, Alexander Lowen, The Language of the Body: Physical Dynamics of Character Structure

   2 more examples

   [He] then holds back his own climax for another ten or fifteen minutes of active copulation until his mate signals him that she is about to reach her acme; then they both ecstatically erupt together.

   1963, Albert Ellis, If This Be Sexual Heresy, page 120

   She has enough of the narcissist in her to love exhibiting herself and to have the exhibition itself arouse her and bring her to her acme (that's very literary, even a little affected, but it's a word that pleases me).

   1987, Jeanne de Berg, Women's Rites

5. medicineSynonym of crisis, the decisive moment in the course of an illness.

   Synonyms: crisis

6. Alternative letter-case form of Acme, particularly as a threading format.

1. Alternative letter-case form of Acme, particularly as a generic company name.

1. uncountableAlternative letter-case form of Acme, particularly as a threading format.

alternative ACME · alternative acme

1. fictionA generic or monopoly company.

   Henry knew better than to alienate one of the Acme secretaries.

   1968 July, Stan Dryer, “The Fully Automated Love Life of Henry Keanridge”, in Playboy Magazine, page 152

   1 more example

   [ Netanyahu ] showed everybody how close Iran was to getting nuclear weapons by having this spherical cartoon bomb with a wick coming up like Acme style. I was watching this thing thinking, are we worried about Ahmadinejad or are we worried about Inspector Clouseau?

   2012 September 29, Adam Felber, “Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me!”, in National Public Radio

2. A village in Kneehill County, Alberta, Canada.
3. A number of places in the United States:
   1. An unincorporated community in Hamilton Township, Jackson County, Indiana.
   2. An unincorporated community in Dickinson County, Kansas.
   3. An unincorporated community in Concordia Parish, Louisiana.
   4. A township and unincorporated community therein, in Grand Traverse County, Michigan.
   5. An unincorporated community in Columbus County, North Carolina.
   6. A township in Hettinger County, North Dakota.
   7. An unincorporated community in Westmoreland County and Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
   8. A ghost town in Oklahoma.
   9. A ghost town in Texas.
   10. A census-designated place in Washington.
   11. An unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia.

alternative ACME · alternative acme

1. uncountableA 29° trapezoidal threading used for various fittings and adapters.