LATE : adj 1: being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a
usual or expected time; "late evening"; "late 18th
century"; "a late movie"; "took a late flight"; "had a
late breakfast" [ant: early, middle]
2: after the expected or usual time; delayed; "a belated
birthday card"; "I'm late for the plane"; "the train is
late"; "tardy children are sent to the principal"; "always
tardy in making dental appointments" [syn: belated, tardy]
3: of the immediate past or just previous to the present time;
"a late development"; "their late quarrel"; "his recent
trip to Africa"; "in recent months"; "a recent issue of
the journal" [syn: late(a), recent]
4: having died recently; "her late husband" [syn: late(a)]
5: of a later stage in the development of a language or
literature; used especially of dead languages; "Late
Greek" [ant: early, middle]
6: at or toward an end or late period or stage of development;
"the late phase of feudalism"; "a later symptom of the
disease"; "later medical science could have saved the
child" [syn: later(a)] [ant: early]
7: (used especially of persons) of the immediate past; "the
former president"; "our late President is still very
active"; "the previous occupant of the White House" [syn:
former(a), late(a), previous(a)]
adv 1: later than usual or than expected; "the train arrived late";
"we awoke late"; "the children came late to school";
"notice came so tardily that we almost missed the
deadline"; "I belatedly wished her a happy birthday"
[syn: belatedly, tardily] [ant: early]
2: to an advanced time; "deep into the night"; "talked late
into the evening" [syn: deep]
3: at an advanced age or stage; "she married late"; "undertook
the project late in her career"
4: in the recent past; "he was in Paris recently"; "lately the
rules have been enforced"; "as late as yesterday she was
fine"; "feeling better of late"; "the spelling was first
affected, but latterly the meaning also" [syn: recently,
lately, of late, latterly]
LATE : \Late\, adv. [AS. late. See Late, a.]
1. After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed;
after delay; as, he arrived late; -- opposed to early.
2. Not long ago; lately.
3. Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period;
as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night.
Of late, in time not long past, or near the present;
lately; as, the practice is of late uncommon.
Too late, after the proper or available time; when the time
or opportunity is past.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
LATE : \Late\, a. [Compar. Later, or latter; superl.
Latest.] [OE. lat slow, slack, AS. l[ae]t; akin to OS. lat,
D. laat late, G. lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel. latr, Sw.
lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats, and to E. let, v. See Let to
permit, and cf. Alas, Lassitude.]
1. Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or
proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a
late spring.
2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of
the day; a late period of life.
3. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not
now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as,
the late bishop of London; the late administration.
4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the
late rains; we have received late intelligence.
5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night;
as, late revels; a late watcher.