late
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L333680 on Wikidata ↗adjective
- being present after the expected time
- at the end of an event
- existing in the latter portion of a time period
- deceased
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /leɪt/ / /læɪt/ / /let/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English late, lat, from Old English læt (“slow; slack, lax, negligent; late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lat, from Proto-Germanic *lataz (“slow, lazy”). By surface analysis, deverbal from let. Cognates Cognate with Yola laate (“late”), North Frisian leed, leet, lääs (“late”), Saterland Frisian leet (“late”), Dutch, German Low German laat (“late, tardy”), Danish lad (“languid, lazy, indolent”), Faroese, Icelandic latur (“lazy”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish lat (“lazy”), Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐍄𐍃 (lats, “lazy, slothful”).
- Near the end of a period of time.
“The seedlings appeared to be coming along nicely until a late frost killed them.”
“The meeting is convened for late morning.”
- Specifically, near the end of the day.
“It was getting late and I was tired.”
- Associated with the end of a period.
“Late Latin is less fully inflected than Classical Latin.”
- Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
“The flowers were late in blooming because of the prolonged cold weather.”
“Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the excuse of being in hospital for most of the night.”
- Levied as a surcharge on a payment which has not arrived by a specified deadline.
“The power company suspended late fees during the pandemic.”
- Not having had an expected menstrual period.
“I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?”
“I am very worried. I am never late.”
- Recently deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person's actions while alive. (Generally must be preceded by a possessive or an article, commonly "the"; see usage notes. Can itself only precede the person's name, never follow it.)
“Her late husband had left her well provided for.”
“Mary was entitled to the crown by her late father’s testament.”
- Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
“the late bishop of London”
“the late administration”
- Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
“the late war”
“OLd Iohn of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaſter, Haſt thou according to thy oath and band Brought hither Henry Herford thy bold ſon: Heere to make good yͤ boiſtrous late appeale, Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare, Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mowbray?”
- Of a star or class of stars, cooler than the sun.
adv
Etymology: From Middle English late, lat, from Old English læt (“slow; slack, lax, negligent; late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lat, from Proto-Germanic *lataz (“slow, lazy”). By surface analysis, deverbal from let. Cognates Cognate with Yola laate (“late”), North Frisian leed, leet, lääs (“late”), Saterland Frisian leet (“late”), Dutch, German Low German laat (“late, tardy”), Danish lad (“languid, lazy, indolent”), Faroese, Icelandic latur (“lazy”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish lat (“lazy”), Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐍄𐍃 (lats, “lazy, slothful”).
- After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
“We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.”
- Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
“Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.”
“The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanque's Fair / What a scene!”
- Not long ago; just now, recently.
“He ſhall doe this, or elſe I doe recant / The pardon that I late pronounced heere.”
“Tears of the widower, when he sees A late-lost form that sleep reveals, And moves his doubtful arms, and feels Her place is empty, fall like these; […]”
noun
Etymology: From Middle English late, lat, from Old English læt (“slow; slack, lax, negligent; late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lat, from Proto-Germanic *lataz (“slow, lazy”). By surface analysis, deverbal from let. Cognates Cognate with Yola laate (“late”), North Frisian leed, leet, lääs (“late”), Saterland Frisian leet (“late”), Dutch, German Low German laat (“late, tardy”), Danish lad (“languid, lazy, indolent”), Faroese, Icelandic latur (“lazy”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish lat (“lazy”), Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐍄𐍃 (lats, “lazy, slothful”).
- A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
“At about 11 pm one night in Corporation Street my watch were on van patrol and Yellow Watch were on late as usual.”