The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - lateadj.

1) tardy, delayed, overdue, behindhand, dilatory, unpunctual; belated, US past due: He was even late for his own wedding. Better late than never. Your mortgage payment is late again. 2) recent, last, new, fresh, current, up to date: Have you got a copy of a late edition of today's newspaper? 3 deceased, departed, dead; former, past, ex-, recent, previous, preceding, old (See also 5., below.) : Here is a song by the late, great Bing Crosby. He has a meeting with Lord Pamby, late chairman of United Oxidation. 4) of late. See 5., below. --adv. 5) recently, lately, previously, formerly, once, heretofore, in recent or former time(s) , of late, latterly (See also 3., above.) : They are dining tonight with Sir Keith, late of Scotland Yard. 6) till or at an advanced hour or time: I was up late last night. She married late. 7) tardily, unpunctually, belatedly: We arrived too late for the first act. 8) recently, lately: As late as a week ago they were still holding the job open for her.