leɪt adj. & adv. --adj. 1
after the due or
usual time; occurring or
done after the
proper time (late
for dinner; a late
milk delivery). 2 a
far on in the
day or
night or in a specified time or
period. b far on in
development. 3
flowering or ripening
towards the
end of the
season (late strawberries). 4 (prec. by the or
my,
his, etc.) no longer
alive or having the specified
status (my late
husband; the late president). 5 of
recent date (the late storms). --adv. 1 after the due or usual time (arrived late). 2 far on in time (this happened later on). 3 at or till a late
hour. 4 at a late
stage of development. 5
formerly but
not now (late of the Scillies). øat the latest as the latest time envisaged (will
have done it by
six at the latest). late in the day colloq. at a late stage in the proceedings,
esp.
too late to be
useful. late
Latin Latin of
about AD 200-600. the latest the
most recent
news,
fashion, etc. (have
you heard the latest?). øølateness n. [OE
lót (adj.), late (adv.) f. Gmc]
