latter
[lat-er]
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Origin of latter
late
[leyt]
- occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.
- continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted: a late business meeting.
- near or at the end of day or well into the night: a late hour.
- belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent: a late news bulletin.
- immediately preceding the present one; former: the late attorney general.
- recently deceased: the late Mr. Phipps.
- occurring at an advanced stage in life: a late marriage.
- belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something: the late phase of feudalism.
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- after the usual or proper time, or after delay: to arrive late.
- until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, especially of the night: to work late.
- at or to an advanced time, period, or stage: The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.
- recently but no longer: a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia.
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- of late, lately; recently: The days have been getting warmer of late.
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Origin of late
before 900; Middle English; Old English læt slow, late; cognate with German lass slothful, Old Norse latr, Gothic lats slow, lazy, Latin lassus tired
Synonyms
See more synonyms for late on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for latter
Contemporary Examples
That latter fear crossed my mind more than once during the evening.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for ShotsEmily Shire
December 26, 2014
In both of these latter cases, their eyes show more focus than fun, like tonight is a job.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for ShotsEmily Shire
December 26, 2014
The former is controlled by the Palestinian Authority, the latter by the government of Israel.
The former believed in the role of the state as a provider, while the latter favored an iron fist approach to governance.
The trouble was, he alienated Pope Pius VI and Pius VII—the latter he actually arrested.
Historical Examples
Philippe had turned with evident distress toward the latter.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
What if the latter should light on some of his various hiding places for money?
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
To the disgust of the latter, Robert actually had the presumption to walk home with Hester.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
They reached the office of Fouts, in the, latter street, just as the Exchange had closed.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
The latter was equally plausible; but, if it came, would it not be preferable to the other?
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
latter
- denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former
- (as noun; functioning as sing or plural)the latter is not important
- near or nearer the endthe latter part of a film
- more advanced in time or sequence; later
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usage
The latter should only be used to refer to the second of two items: many people choose to go by hovercraft rather than use the ferry, but I prefer the latter. The last of three or more items can be referred to as the last-named
late
- occurring or arriving after the correct or expected timethe train was late
- (prenominal) occurring, scheduled for, or being at a relatively advanced timea late marriage
- (prenominal) towards or near the endthe late evening
- at an advanced time in the evening or at nightit was late
- (prenominal) occurring or being just previous to the present timehis late remarks on industry
- (prenominal) having died, esp recentlymy late grandfather
- (prenominal) just preceding the present or existing person or thing; formerthe late manager of this firm
- of late recently; lately
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- after the correct or expected timehe arrived late
- at a relatively advanced ageshe married late
- recently; latelyas late as yesterday he was selling books
- late hours rising and going to bed later than is usual
- late in the day
- at a late or advanced stage
- too late
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Word Origin
Old English læt; related to Old Norse latr, Gothic lats
usage
Since late can mean deceased, many people think it is better to avoid using this word to refer to the person who held a post or position before its present holder: the previous (not the late) editor of The Times
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for latter
late
adj.
Old English læt "occurring after the customary or expected time," originally "slow, sluggish," from Proto-Germanic *lata- (cf. Old Norse latr "sluggish, lazy," Middle Dutch, Old Saxon lat, German laß "idle, weary," Gothic lats "weary, sluggish, lazy," latjan "to hinder"), from PIE *led- "slow, weary" (cf. Latin lassus "faint, weary, languid, exhausted," Greek ledein "to be weary"), from root *le- "to let go, slacken" (see let (v.)).
The sense of "deceased" (as in the late Mrs. Smith) is from late 15c., from an adverbial sense of "recently." Of women's menstrual periods, attested colloquially from 1962. Related: Lateness. As an adverb, from Old English late.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with latter
late
In addition to the idioms beginning with late
also see:
- at the latest
- better late than never
- Johnny-come-lately
- keep late hours
- of late
- the latest
- too little, too late
Also see underlater.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.