late
/leɪt/ adjective A1- 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?
- 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
Comparative later · Superlative latest
From the library
Not many days later, winter set in again with renewed frost and cold.
He exclaimed with a too late repentance, “Wretched me!
“There is no occasion to move yet, my son,” she replied; “the man who only sends to his friends to help him with his harvest is not really in earnest.” The owner of the field came again a few days later and saw the wheat shedding the grain from excess of ripeness.
The housekeeper came forward, and told them it was the picture of a young gentleman, the son of her late master’s steward, who had been brought up by him at his own expense.
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