late 
late (lāt)
adjective lat′er or lat′·ter, lat′·est or last
- happening, coming, etc. after the usual, proper, or expected time; tardy; behindhand
- happening, being, continuing, etc. far on in the day, night, year, etc. the late afternoon, a late party
- happening, being, continuing, etc. toward the end; far advanced in a period, development, etc. the late Middle Ages
- happening, appearing, etc. just previous to the present time; recent a late news bulletin
- having been so recently but not now the late allies
- having recently died
Etymology: ME < OE læt, slow, sluggish, tardy, akin to Du laat, Ger lass, slow, lazy < IE *lēid < base *lēi-, to neglect, let go > let, L lassus, weak
adverb lat′er, lat′·est or last
- after the usual, proper, or expected time; tardily
- at or until an advanced time of the day, night, year, etc.
- toward the end of a given period, development, etc.
- recently; lately as late as yesterday
Etymology: ME < OE < base of the adj.
late on
Chiefly Brit. at a late stage; near the end
of late
lately
late
modif.
Tardy
too late, held up, overdue, stayed, postponed, put off, not on time, belated, behind time, lagging, delayed, remiss, behindhand, backward, not in time, in the lurch*, later than you think*, at the eleventh hour*; see also slow 2, 3.Recently dead
Recent
Far into the night
nocturnal, night-loving, after hours, advanced, tardy, toward morning, after midnight. At an advanced cultural stage
developed, cultured, advanced; see modern 1, 3. See syn. study at dead.
of late
Preposition: at
- night: These are the editions I reach for late at night.
Modifies a noun
- news: The latest news from the world of Doctor Who.
- version: We ship only the latest version of our software.
- century: The working class adopted the sport during the late 19th Century.
- date: Latest dates for your sex & the city 2006 pink dairy are: @ 100 % babe - special event!
- 1980s: The BECTU History Project has been running since the late 1980s.
- addition: The sports documentary is becoming a stalwart of the genre but can this latest addition be as extreme as the rest?
Modifying Another Word
- too: Oops, me thinks your condition shows its too late for you.
- very: In our very latest work, " Marge " has mapped the whole Keble triangle.
Infinitive complement
- join: Dept. , London Wall, EC2, 6.00 pm COURSES ( not too late to join!
- start: Sheila is great proof that it is never too late to start writing.
- apply: It is too late to apply now, but the positions are advertised every year.
Used with adjective complement
- arrive: Applications sent by fax or email or any that arrive late will not be accepted so always be aware of the deadline!
- come: Market or Poultry crosses came relatively late in the history of markets.
Preposition: in
- series: The Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2000 is the latest in a series of Reports on the Industrial Development Act 1982.
- evening: Set over 5 levels, the entire venue is reserved for our passengers until later in the evening.
- string: The China deal is the latest in a string of successes for the company.
- technology: Halogen heaters are being hailed as the latest in heating technology - being both highly efficient and economical.
- line: Latest in line is Kid Blue, a new face on the scene but one whose production shows a mature approach to producing.
- clothing: Hucklecote Hucklecote offers you the latest in country clothing for the discerning gentleman.
Trois heures, c'est toujours trop tard ou trop to" t pour tout ce qu'on veut faire. Three o'clock is always either too late or too early for anything one might want to do.
There is no more offensive act of theatrical rudeness than coming late to a performance.
The dread of beatings! Dread of being late! And, greatest dread of all, the dread of games!
Five minutes! Zounds! I have been five minutes too late all my life-time!
Sero te amavi, pulchritudo tam antiqua et tam nova, sero te amavi! Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you.
My celestial patroness, who deigns Her nightly visitation unimplored, And dictates to me slumbering, or inspires Easy my unpremeditated verse: Since first this subject for heroic song Pleased me long choosing, and beginning late.
Most people really believe that the Christian commandments (e.g. to love one's neighbour as oneself) are intentionally a little too severeölike putting Kincaid the clockonhalf anhour tomakesure of not being late in the morning.
I have noticed that people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.
Except the L build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the L keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
I have come to the borders of sleep, The unfathomable deep Forest, where all must lose Their way, however straight Or winding, soon or late; They cannot choose.
What dreamest thou, drunkard, drowsy pate? Thy lust and liking is from thee gone. Thou blinkard blowboll, thou wakest too late.
Tout est dit, et l'on vient trop tard depuis plus de sept mille ans qu'il y a des hommes et qui pensent. Everything has been said. After seven thousand years of human thought, we have come too late.
Browse dictionary entries near late
- ‹ latchstring
- ‹ latchkey
- ‹ latchet
- ‹ latch onto
- ‹ latch
- ‹ Latakia
- ‹ LATA
- ‹ lat
- ‹ lastly
- ‹ lasting
- late bloomer ›
- Late Greek ›
- Late Latin ›
- latecomer ›
- lateen ›
- lateen-rigged ›
- lately ›
- latency ›
- lateness ›
- latent ›
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