Etimology
From Middle English late, lat, from Old English læt (“slow; slack, lax, negligent; late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lat, from Proto-Germanic *lataz (“slow, lazy”). By surface analysis, deverbal from let.
adjective
late (comparative later, superlative latest)
Near the end of a period of time.
Specifically, near the end of the day.
(usually not comparable) Associated with the end of a period.
Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
Levied as a surcharge on a payment which has not arrived by a specified deadline.
Not having had an expected menstrual period.
(not comparable, euphemistic) Deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person's actions while alive. (Generally must be preceded by a possessive or an article, commonly "the"; see usage notes. Can itself only precede the person's name, never follow it.)
Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
(astronomy) Of a star or class of stars, cooler than the sun.
Examples
The seedlings appeared to be coming along nicely until a late frost killed them.
It was getting late and I was tired.
Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin.
The flowers were late in blooming because of the prolonged cold weather.
Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the excuse of being in hospital for most of the night.
The power company suspended late fees during the pandemic.
I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?
I am very worried. I am never late.
Her late husband had left her well provided for.
The piece was composed by the late Igor Stravinsky.
To Edward […] he was terrible, nerve-inflaming, poisonously asphyxiating. He sat rocking himself in the late Mr. Churchill's swing chair, smoking and twaddling.
This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the perch it would be pushing up the daisies!
The following public assemblies and public processions are excluded from the prohibition in paragraph 2: […] any public assembly or public procession in an open space that is held primarily to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew […]
“He is not my ‘late husband’. He is my husband,” she said, before discussing how the couple had managed to retain their independent identities while together.
the late bishop of London
the late administration
By Edvvard Reynoldes, late Preacher to the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inne: And now Rector of the Church of Braunſton in Northamptonſhire.
OLd Iohn of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaſter,Haſt thou according to thy oath and bandBrought hither Henry Herford thy bold ſon:Heere to make good yͤ boiſtrous late appeale,Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare,Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mowbray?
Lancaster bore him—such a little town, / Such a great man. It doesn't see him often / Of late years, though he keeps the old homestead / And sends the children down there with their mother […]
noun
late (plural lates)
(informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
Examples
At about 11 pm one night in Corporation Street my watch were on van patrol and Yellow Watch were on late as usual.
Related words
antonyms
early
adverb
late (comparative later, superlative latest)
After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
Not long ago; just now, recently.
Examples
We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.
Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.
The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanque's Fair / What a scene!
He ſhall doe this, or elſe I doe recant / The pardon that I late pronounced heere.
Tears of the widower, when he seesA late-lost form that sleep reveals,And moves his doubtful arms, and feelsHer place is empty, fall like these; […]
Related words
synonyms
(past a designated time): belatedly; see also Thesaurus:belatedly
(formerly): erenow; see also Thesaurus:formerly
(not long ago): freshly; see also Thesaurus:recently