late English · revision 2495

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English læt)|origins=ine-pro *lē-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /leɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|late]] (also [[m|enm|lat]]), [[inh|ang|læt|t=slow, sluggish; late]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*lataz|t=slow, sluggish]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*lē-|t=to let go, slacken]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[let]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) to [[last]] and [[latter]],^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986) and to [[la|lassus|t=weary]].^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) Its relatives include [[nl|laat]], [[de|lass|t=idle, weary]] and [[non|latr|t=sluggish, lazy]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Late, slow, sluggish: Old English ''læt'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline gives “slow, slack, negligent” as the original sense.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adverb, Old English ''late'', first meant “slowly”, a sense lost in late Middle English.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Middle English ''let'' meant “slow, sluggish” probably before 1200, and ''late'' “tardy” about 1225.^(Barnhart 1988) “In the latter part of a period” is from the mid-13th century, and “recent”, as in ''of late'', from about 1400.^(Etymonline) From this came “recently dead”, as in ''the late Mrs Smith'', in the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''Lately'' is from about 1340.^(Barnhart 1988) The old comparative was ''latter'', now limited to set uses, while ''later'' and ''latest'' are 16th-century formations.^(Hoad 1986) ''Better late than never'' is from the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) ''Latecomer'' is from 1869.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''læt'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1225 – tardy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-13th century – in the latter part of a period.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1340 – ''lately''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – recent.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – recently dead.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – ''better late than never''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – ''later'', ''latest''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1869 – ''latecomer''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Coming or happening after the usual or expected time; [[tardy]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Happening at an advanced hour, especially well into the night.^(AHD)

+ # Belonging to the end or later part of a period: ''the late 19th century''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Recent: ''of late''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Recently dead: ''the late Mrs Smith''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Former: ''the late president''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # After the expected or proper time.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # At or until an advanced hour or stage.^(AHD)

+ # Recently: ''as late as last week''.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lateness]]

+ * [[late-blooming]]

+ * [[late-night]]

+ * [[lated]]

+ * [[latewood]]

+ * [[latish]]

+ * [[overlate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[let]]

+ * [[last]]

+ * [[latter]]

+ * [[lately]]

+ * [[lassitude]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''our late treasurer'' may properly mean a living former treasurer, but recommends ''former'' to avoid misunderstanding.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}