late en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /læɪt/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /leɪt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /let/ (Scotland)
- /leːt/ (Wales) without the pane–pain merger
- (Received-Pronunciation) audio
- (US) audio
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”), German lass (“lazy, sluggish”), Danish lad (“languid, lazy, indolent”), Faroese, Icelandic latur (“lazy”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish lat (“lazy”), Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐍄𐍃 (lats, “lazy, slothful”).
Meanings
-
Near the end of a period of time.
In Southern U.S., "evening" is used for middle to late afternoon.
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.
-
(not-comparable, usually) 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 heavy snow made all the trains late.
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.
The flowers were late in blooming because of the prolonged cold weather.
-
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 am very worried. I am never late.
1992 February 5, Larry Charles, Elaine Pope, “The Fix-Up”, in Seinfeld, spoken by Cynthia (Maggie Wheeler):I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?
-
(euphemistic, not-comparable) 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.
“He is not my ‘late husband’. He is my husband,” she said, before discussing how the couple had managed to retain their independent identities while together.
2022 December 14, Nadia Khomami, quoting Iman, “‘He’s not my “late” husband’: Iman speaks of grief over death of David Bowie”, in The Guardian:This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the perch it would be pushing up the daisies!
1969 December 7, Monty Python, “Full Frontal Nudity, Dead Parrot sketch”, in Monty Python's Flying Circus, spoken by Mr Praline (John Cleese):Mary was entitled to the crown by her late father’s testament.
Mark’s late wife, Gemma, was an educator as well. Russian literature.
2022 February 18, Dan Erickson, “Good News About Hell”, in Severance, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Ricken (Michael Chernus):To Edward […] he was terrible, nerve-inflaming, poisonously asphyxiating. He sat rocking himself in the late Mr. Churchill's swing chair, smoking and twaddling.
1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 181:
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(dated) Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
It was a lonely place enough, even in all its rustic beauty, for so bright a creature as the late Miss Lucy Graham, but the generous baronet had transformed the interior of the gray old mansion into a little palace for his young wife, and Lady Audley seemed as happy as a child surrounded by new and costly toys.
1862, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley's Secret:By Edvvard Reynoldes, late Preacher to the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inne: And now Rector of the Church of Braunſton in Northamptonſhire.
1640, Edvvard Reynoldes, A Treatise of the Passions and Facvlties of the Soul of Man. With the severall Dignities and Corruptions thereunto belonging., London: […] R. H. for Robert Bostock, […]:the late bishop of London
the late administration
-
Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
Lancaster bore him—such a little town, / Such a great man. It doesn't see him often / Of late years, though he keeps the old homestead / And sends the children down there with their mother[…]
1914, Robert Frost, “A Hundred Collars”, in North of Boston: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?
1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 1:the late war
- Of a star or class of stars, cooler than the sun.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| later | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| latest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Descendants
Hyponyms
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (342)
fr tard (near the end of the day) · ga trócaire air (euphemism for "dead") · hu késő (near the end of a period of time) · pt finado (euphemism for "dead") · af oorlede (euphemism for "dead") · sc taldu (near the end of a period of time) · cmn 已故 (euphemism for "dead") · mh awa (not arriving until after an expected time) · eo malfrua (not arriving until after an expected time) · th สาย (not arriving until after an expected time) · dlm tierč (not arriving until after an expected time) · hu késő (near the end of the day) · ta லேட்டு (not arriving until after an expected time) · es tardío (associated with the end of a period) · ms allahyarham (euphemism for "dead") · ro târziu (not arriving until after an expected time) · pt tardio (near the end of a period of time) · fi myöhäinen (near the end of the day) · ang læt (near the end of the day) · he מאחר (not arriving until after an expected time) · mi takaroa (not arriving until after an expected time) · eo malfrua (associated with the end of a period) · fi myöhä (near the end of the day) · gd anmoch (near the end of the day) · nl late (near the end of the day) · el αργά (near the end of the day) · yi שפּעט (associated with the end of a period) · no sein (near the end of a period of time) · uk покі́йний (euphemism for "dead") · wa tård (near the end of a period of time) · cy hwyr (near the end of a period of time) · lt vėlus (near the end of a period of time) · uk запізні́лий (not arriving until after an expected time) · it defunto (euphemism for "dead") · fro tart (not arriving until after an expected time) · ta தாமதம் (not arriving until after an expected time) · gl defunto (euphemism for "dead") · es difunto (euphemism for "dead") · eo ĵusa (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · af laat (near the end of a period of time) · ca tard (near the end of a period of time) · fo seint (near the end of the day) · ta லேட் (not arriving until after an expected time) · sl pôzen (near the end of a period of time) · th สาย (near the end of a period of time) · fi -vainaja (euphemism for "dead") · ga nach maireann (euphemism for "dead") · sh pokojan (euphemism for "dead") · hu későn (not arriving until after an expected time) · ja 晩い (near the end of the day) · ja 晩い (associated with the end of a period) · az ərəzən (not arriving until after an expected time) · la abortus (euphemism for "dead") · es atrasado (not arriving until after an expected time) · ar مَرْحُوم (euphemism for "dead") · vi muộn (near the end of a period of time) · bg ско́рошен (recent) · ms lambat (near the end of a period of time) · alt соҥ (near the end of a period of time) · bg закъснял (not arriving until after an expected time) · es tarde (near the end of the day) · nl laat (near the end of the day) · sq i vonë (near the end of a period of time) · he מנוח (euphemism for "dead") · ang læt (associated with the end of a period) · eo karmemora (euphemism for "dead") · az rəhmətlik (euphemism for "dead") · izh mööhä (not arriving until after an expected time) · fr regretté (euphemism for "dead") · pt recente (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · hi स्वर्गीय (euphemism for "dead") · fi myöhäis- (associated with the end of a period) · el αργοπορημένος (not arriving until after an expected time) · ru по́здний (near the end of a period of time) · id terlambat (not arriving until after an expected time) · fo seinur (not arriving until after an expected time) · sv hädangången (euphemism for "dead") · sh покојан (euphemism for "dead") · da sen (near the end of a period of time) · pt falecido (euphemism for "dead") · lv sebu (near the end of a period of time) · eo vespera (near the end of the day) · ast tardiegu (associated with the end of a period) · th ดึก (near the end of the day) · uk пі́зній (near the end of a period of time) · fi edellinen (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · fi viimeisimmät (recent) · ja 亡き (euphemism for "dead") · eo tarda (not arriving until after an expected time) · mk доцен (near the end of the day) · cs pozdní (associated with the end of a period) · nl laat (associated with the end of a period) · bg къ́сен (near the end of a period of time) · be по́зні (near the end of a period of time) · gl que foi (euphemism for "dead") · eo fina (associated with the end of a period) · it fu (euphemism for "dead") · fi viime (recent) · nl overtijd (not having had an expected menstrual period) · nds loot (near the end of a period of time) · he מאוחר \ מְאֻחָר (near the end of a period of time) · de spät (near the end of a period of time) · nl late (associated with the end of a period) · eo freŝdata (recent) · hu elkésik (not arriving until after an expected time) · ba мәрхүм (euphemism for "dead") · yue 晏 (near the end of the day) · af laat (associated with the end of a period) · cmn 晚 (near the end of a period of time) · ur دیر (near the end of a period of time) · hu néhai (euphemism for "dead") · la tardatus (not arriving until after an expected time) · bn দেরেঙ্গ (not arriving until after an expected time) · km យឺត (near the end of a period of time) · ga trócaire uirthi (euphemism for "dead") · ru по́здний (associated with the end of a period) · tr merhum (euphemism for "dead") · de verspätet (not arriving until after an expected time) · el προηγούμενος (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · nds-de late (near the end of a period of time) · gd anmoch (near the end of a period of time) · de spät (near the end of the day) · nb avdød (euphemism for "dead") · ca difunt (euphemism for "dead") · pdt lot (not arriving until after an expected time) · rup tãrdzãu (near the end of a period of time) · vi trễ (near the end of a period of time) · mk доцен (not arriving until after an expected time) · el τελευταίος (recent) · slr uda (near the end of a period of time) · it in ritardo (not arriving until after an expected time) · hy ողորմածիկ (euphemism for "dead") · pt tardia (associated with the end of a period) · lv nelaiķis (euphemism for "dead") · el αργά (not arriving until after an expected time) · hu kései (near the end of a period of time) · az savar (not arriving until after an expected time) · fo síðla (near the end of the day) · pl późny (associated with the end of a period) · es a fin de (related to a person's age, a decade, etc.) · bho देर (near the end of a period of time) · hu késő (associated with the end of a period) · sv sen (near the end of the day) · no som har gått fra oss (euphemism for "dead") · uz kech (near the end of a period of time) · ast sero (near the end of a period of time) · sl pôzen (associated with the end of a period) · yi שפּעט (near the end of a period of time) · ny malemu (euphemism for "dead") · mk ско́решен (recent) · bg покоен (euphemism for "dead") · uk пі́зній (associated with the end of a period) · lt vėlyvas (near the end of a period of time) · rup tãrdziu (not arriving until after an expected time) · mi akutō (not arriving until after an expected time) · alt кеч (near the end of a period of time) · mk ско́рашен (recent) · la sērus (not arriving until after an expected time) · uk пі́зній (not arriving until after an expected time) · fo síðla (near the end of a period of time) · got 𐍃𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌿𐍃 (near the end of a period of time) · pl późny (near the end of a period of time) · gu મોડું (not arriving until after an expected time) · ast defuntu (euphemism for "dead") · fi myöhässä (not arriving until after an expected time) · ru запозда́лый (not arriving until after an expected time) · gd fadalach (not arriving until after an expected time) · fi aiempi (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · cs pozdní (near the end of a period of time) · ba һуң (near the end of a period of time) · fo seint (near the end of a period of time) · mk задоцнет (not arriving until after an expected time) · hu egykori (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · sv sen (near the end of a period of time) · mk бивш (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · be по́зні (not arriving until after an expected time) · bg късен (associated with the end of a period) · ko 늦다 (near the end of a period of time) · lv vēls (near the end of a period of time) · hi देर (near the end of a period of time) · lo ຊ້າ (near the end of a period of time) · tk giç (near the end of a period of time) · fi -vainaa (euphemism for "dead") · fr en retard (not arriving until after an expected time) · mk неода́мнешен (recent) · eo malfrua (not arriving until after an expected time) · de spät (associated with the end of a period) · de selig (euphemism for "dead") · cdo 遲 /迟 (near the end of a period of time) · sc tardu (near the end of a period of time) · bg неотда́внашен (recent) · az gec (near the end of a period of time) · it tardo (near the end of the day) · eo malfrua (near the end of a period of time) · yao malemu (euphemism for "dead") · ang læt (not arriving until after an expected time) · nl wijlen (euphemism for "dead") · vi trể (not arriving until after an expected time) · bn দেরী (not arriving until after an expected time) · pl późny (near the end of the day) · pt atrasado (not arriving until after an expected time) · sv sen (not arriving until after an expected time) · fi myöhäinen (associated with the end of a period) · rm tard (near the end of a period of time) · la tardus (near the end of a period of time) · is heitinn (euphemism for "dead") · ja 最近 (recent) · it tardo (near the end of a period of time) · pl spóźniony (not arriving until after an expected time) · ar مُتَأَخِّر (not arriving until after an expected time) · got 𐍃𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌿𐍃 (near the end of the day) · ms lewat (not arriving until after an expected time) · ru поко́йный (euphemism for "dead") · ms allahyarhamah (euphemism for "dead") · id kasip (not arriving until after an expected time) · tr geç (near the end of a period of time) · id almarhumah (euphemism for "dead") · ht ta (near the end of a period of time) · cs pozdní (near the end of the day) · tr rahmetli (euphemism for "dead") · pl świętej pamięci (euphemism for "dead") · pt tardio (associated with the end of a period) · mk доцен (near the end of a period of time) · ast avisiegu (associated with the end of a period) · eo forpasinta (euphemism for "dead") · fi myöhässä (not having had an expected menstrual period) · bg предишен (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · ko 지각 (not arriving until after an expected time) · pt recente (recent) · mi tōmuri (not arriving until after an expected time) · ast sero (near the end of the day) · id telat (not arriving until after an expected time) · ary مْعطّل (not arriving until after an expected time) · es tarde (near the end of a period of time) · ru по́здний (not arriving until after an expected time) · ga trócaire orthu (euphemism for "dead") · bn মরহুম (euphemism for "dead") · gu દેર (not arriving until after an expected time) · hu késésben van (not arriving until after an expected time) · pt tardio (near the end of the day) · az mərhum (euphemism for "dead") · ro târziu (near the end of a period of time) · ast serondu (associated with the end of a period) · hy ուշ (associated with the end of a period) · nl laat (near the end of a period of time) · hu korábbi (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · gd air dheireadh (not arriving until after an expected time) · ru усо́пший (euphemism for "dead") · dlm tierč (near the end of a period of time) · izh mööhä (near the end of a period of time) · fr feu (euphemism for "dead") · bg починал (euphemism for "dead") · my နောက်ကျ (not arriving until after an expected time) · stq leet (near the end of a period of time) · es finado (euphemism for "dead") · ar مُتَأَخِّر (near the end of a period of time) · ast serondiegu (associated with the end of a period) · pl zmarły (euphemism for "dead") · ajp متأخّر (near the end of a period of time) · af laat (not arriving until after an expected time) · id mendiang (euphemism for "dead") · fr tard (near the end of a period of time) · sk neskorý (near the end of a period of time) · hy ուշ (near the end of a period of time) · bn দিরঙ্গ (not arriving until after an expected time) · ja 晩い (near the end of a period of time) · ja 遅れた (not arriving until after an expected time) · tt märxüm (euphemism for "dead") · tl gutoy (not arriving until after an expected time) · eo ĵusa (recent) · sv försenad (not arriving until after an expected time) · el αργά (near the end of a period of time) · la tardus (associated with the end of a period) · oc tard (near the end of a period of time) · fr défunt (euphemism for "dead") · rup tãrdziu (near the end of a period of time) · mk доцен (associated with the end of a period) · pt defunto (euphemism for "dead") · ast estadizu (not arriving until after an expected time) · lt velionis (euphemism for "dead") · vo latik (not arriving until after an expected time) · eo -multaj (related to a person's age, a decade, etc.) · yi שפּעט (near the end of the day) · is seint (near the end of a period of time) · la tardus (near the end of the day) · izh mööhä (associated with the end of a period) · hu késik (not arriving until after an expected time) · my နှောင်း (near the end of a period of time) · ast fináu (euphemism for "dead") · bg късен (near the end of the day) · wa tård (near the end of the day) · sv sen (associated with the end of a period) · ru по́здний (near the end of the day) · mk покоен (euphemism for "dead") · sw marehemu (euphemism for "dead") · ky кеч (near the end of a period of time) · sl pôzen (not arriving until after an expected time) · gd nach maireann (euphemism for "dead") · eo tarda (near the end of a period of time) · bn দেরি (near the end of a period of time) · kk кеш (near the end of a period of time) · wa tårdou (not arriving until after an expected time) · mfe tar (near the end of a period of time) · id almarhum (euphemism for "dead") · ja 故 (euphemism for "dead") · is seint (near the end of the day) · sh kȁsan (near the end of a period of time) · ja 晩い (not arriving until after an expected time) · tg дер (near the end of a period of time) · izh mööhä (near the end of the day) · hi दिवंगत (euphemism for "dead") · ia tarde (near the end of a period of time) · ka ცხონებული (euphemism for "dead") · ms mendiang (euphemism for "dead") · el πρώην (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · fi myöhäinen (near the end of a period of time) · es a final de (related to a person's age, a decade, etc.) · de verstorben (euphemism for "dead") · be запо́знены (not arriving until after an expected time) · fr regrettée (euphemism for "dead") · da salig (euphemism for "dead") · sv avliden (euphemism for "dead") · el μακαρίτης (euphemism for "dead") · es a fines de (related to a person's age, a decade, etc.) · hy ուշ (not arriving until after an expected time) · sh ка̏сан (near the end of a period of time) · hu késői (near the end of a period of time) · cs blahé paměti (euphemism for "dead") · fo sáli (euphemism for "dead") · nn avdød (euphemism for "dead") · mk пора́нешен (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · fi edesmennyt (euphemism for "dead") · sl pôzen (near the end of the day) · mi tūreiti (not arriving until after an expected time) · sv framliden (euphemism for "dead") · nds laat (near the end of a period of time) · hy ուշ (near the end of the day) · fa دیر (near the end of a period of time) · ang læt (near the end of a period of time) · lv sebs (near the end of a period of time) · bg бивш (existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now) · no som har gått bort (euphemism for "dead")