Dictionary
late
Pronunciation: (lāt), [key]
—adj., lat•er or lat•ter, lat•est or last,
—adv. lat•er, lat•est.
—
adj.
1. occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time:
late frosts; a late spring.
2. continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted:
a late business meeting.
3. near or at the end of day or well into the night:
a late hour.
4. belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent:
a late news bulletin.
5. immediately preceding the present one; former:
the late attorney general.
6. recently deceased:
the late Mr. Phipps.
7. occurring at an advanced stage in life:
a late marriage.
8. belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something:
the late phase of feudalism.
9. of late, lately; recently:
The days have been getting warmer of late.
—
adv.
1. after the usual or proper time, or after delay:
to arrive late.
2. until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, esp. of the night:
to work late.
3. at or to an advanced time, period, or stage:
The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates.
4. recently but no longer:
a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
