late has definitions from the field of linguistics
1
[ adjective ] being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

Examples

"late evening" "late 18th century" "a late movie" "took a late flight" "had a late breakfast"

Used in print

(The Sun, [Baltimore],...)

The flavor of Baltimore 's Florida_Grapefruit_League news ripened considerably late today when the Orioles were advised that Ron_Hansen has fulfilled his obligations under the Army 's military training_program and is ready for belated spring_training .

The big , 22 - year old shortstop , the 1960 American_league `` rookie of the year '' , flew here late this afternoon from Baltimore , signed his contract for an estimated $ 15000 and was a spectator at tonight 's 5 - to 3 loss to Kansas_City - the winless Birds ' sixth setback in_a_row .

Just before game time , Robinson 's pretty wife , Connie informed him that an addition to the family can be expected late next summer .

(The Dallas Morning News,...)

Gannon contributed saving plays on the Falcons ' aerial thrusts in the late stages .

(The Christian Science Monitor,...)

Samples zoomed into closeup range in regular succession , like telephone_poles passing on the highway , while representative music reinforced the mood of the late teens and 1920 's .

2
[ adverb ] later than usual or than expected

Synonyms

tardily belatedly

Examples

"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"

Used in print

(Frederick Mosteller et al., Probability with...)

Each Friday one manager is chosen by lot to stay late and load the equipment on a truck .

(Douglas Ashford, "Elections in Morocco: Progress...)

In late 1957 the M.P. ( Mouvement_Populaire ) appeared and in the spring of 1958 the internal strains of the Istiqlal was revealed when the third Council_of_Government under Balafrej was formed without support from progressive elements in the party .

Voter registration began in late November 1959 and continued until early January , 1960 .

(Christopher Davis, First Family....)

He rose late and went_down in his bathrobe and slippers to have breakfast either alone or with Rachel .

(Leon Uris, Mila 8....)

Had he found the meaning too late ?

Related terms

early belated belated belated

3
[ adjective ] after the expected or usual time; delayed

Synonyms

belated tardy

Examples

"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"

Used in print

(Peter J. White, "Report on Laos"...)

John said : `` I have some antiseptic salve with me , but it 's too late for that '' .

(T. C. McClary, "The Flooded Desert," Argosy,...)

It had been five days too late before he learned that she 'd gone_through the wedding_ceremony in a semitrance of laudanum , administered by her mother .

(Morley Callaghan, A Passion in Rome....)

`` Come_on , you 'll be late '' .

Related terms

unpunctual

4
[ adverb ] to an advanced time

Synonyms

deep

Examples

"deep into the night" "talked late into the evening"

Used in print

(John Harnsberger and Robert P. Wilkins,...)

The mercenaries were little interested in farming and added nothing to the output of the farm plots on which all work was still done with hoes as late as 1818 .

When late in the summer the full extent of the damage was assessed , all but fifty of the Scots , Swiss and metis moved up the Red to the mouth of the Pembina river .

(Arlin Turner, "William Faulkner, Southern Novelist"...)

The tradition reached its apex , perhaps , in the works of Thomas_Nelson_Page toward the end of the century , and reappeared undiminished as late as 1934 in the best-selling novel So_Red_the_Rose , by Stark_Young .

5
[ adjective ] of the immediate past or just previous to the present time

Synonyms

recent

Examples

"a late development" "their late quarrel" "his recent trip to Africa" "in recent months" "a recent issue of the journal"

Related terms

past

6
[ adjective ] having died recently

Examples

"her late husband"

Used in print

(The Times-Picayune, [New Orleans]...)

These sages include poet Carl_Sandburg , statesman Jawaharlal_Nehru and sculptor Jacques_Lipchitz , in Volume One , and playwright Sean_O'Casey , David_Ben-Gurion , philosopher Bertrand_Russell and the late Frank_Lloyd_Wright in the second set .

Related terms

dead

7
[ adjective ] (linguistics) of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages

Examples

"Late Greek"

Used in print

(J. H. Hexter, "Thomas More: On the Margins...)

What that spirit and attitude were we can best understand if we see more precisely how it contrasts with the communist tradition with the longest continuous history , the one which reached Christianity by_the_way_of Stoicism through the Church_Fathers of Late Antiquity .

8
[ adjective ] at or toward an end or late period or stage of development

Synonyms

later

Examples

"the late phase of feudalism" "a later symptom of the disease" "later medical science could have saved the child"

Used in print

(Peter J. White, "Report on Laos"...)

John said : `` I have some antiseptic salve with me , but it 's too late for that '' .

Related terms

early advanced tardive

9
[ adverb ] at an advanced age or stage

Examples

"she married late" "undertook the project late in her career"

10
[ adverb ] in the recent past

Examples

"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"

11
[ adjective ] (used especially of persons) of to the immediate past

Synonyms

previous former

Examples

"the former president" "our late President is still very active" "the previous occupant of the White House"

Related terms

past

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