LATE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Late

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Late

adjective

(compar. later, or latter; superl. latest or last)

1.

Being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time. "Late 18th century" , "A late movie" , "Took a late flight" , "Had a late breakfast"

2.

After the expected or usual time; delayed. Synonyms: belated, tardy. "I'm late for the plane" , "The train is late" , "Tardy children are sent to the principal" , "Always tardy in making dental appointments"

3.

Of the immediate past or just previous to the present time. Synonym: recent. "Their late quarrel" , "His recent trip to Africa" , "In recent months" , "A recent issue of the journal"

4.

Having died recently.

5.

Of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages.

6.

At or toward an end or late period or stage of development. Synonym: later. "A later symptom of the disease" , "Later medical science could have saved the child"

7.

(used especially of persons) of the immediate past. Synonyms: former, previous. "Our late President is still very active" , "The previous occupant of the White House"

adverb

1.

Later than usual or than expected. Synonyms: belatedly, tardily. "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"

2.

To an advanced time. Synonym: deep. "Talked late into the evening"

3.

At an advanced age or stage. "Undertook the project late in her career"

4.

In the recent past. Synonyms: lately, latterly, of late, 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"

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WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University

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"Late" Quotes from Famous Books

... another sixty thousand men in the colony or on the sea ready to fill the gaps in his advance. Moving over a flat country with plenty of flanking room, it is probable that he would have been in Bloemfontein by Christmas and at the Vaal River late in January. What could the Boers do then? They might remain before Ladysmith, and learn that their capital and their gold mines had been taken in their absence. Or they might abandon the siege and trek back to defend ...

— The Great Boer War • Arthur Conan Doyle

... renounce the sensible idea of testing my future husband ... but be warned! If in the future I am tortured by discovering any glaring defects and odious peculiarities, that what you call my indiscretion might have revealed before it was too late, you will permit me to come and complain to you every day, and you must promise to listen to my endless lamentations as I repeat over and over again. O Valentine, I have learned too late what I might have known in time to save me! Valentine, ...

— The Cross of Berny • Emile de Girardin

... without stopping through the streets of Memphis. As long as she saw houses with lighted windows on each side of the way, and met riotous soldiers and quiet citizens going home from the taverns, or from working late in their workshops, with lanterns in their hands or carried by their slaves—so long her predominant feeling was one of hatred to Publius; and mixed with this was a sentiment altogether new to her—a sentiment that made her blood boil, ...

— Uarda • Georg Ebers

... it reasonable that the Almighty should suspend the everlasting destiny of his creatures upon what they do or omit doing in this life, because men, in earthly transactions, adopt a similar principle. A railroad train is advertised to start at a certain hour. If we are there a minute too late, we lose our opportunity of going on an important journey. We think this reasonable; why, then, argues Dr. Adams, should we think it unreasonable for God to make us lose our chance throughout eternity if we do not take the opportunity during life? God has given us full notice, ...

— Orthodoxy: Its Truths And Errors • James Freeman Clarke

... Until late in the last century it was a common thing for the ruler of a native Eastern state to celebrate his accession to the throne by slaughtering his brothers and uncles. This drastic measure reduced the possibilities of the new ruler ...

— Noble Deeds of the World's Heroines • Henry Charles Moore

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