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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Late \Late\ (l[=a]t), a. [Compar. {Later} (l[=a]t"[~e]r), or
{latter} (l[a^]t"t[~e]r); superl. {Latest} (l[=a]t"[e^]st) or
{Last} (l[.a]st).] [OE. lat slow, slack, AS. l[ae]t; akin to
OS. lat, D. laat late, G. lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel.
latr, Sw. lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats, and to E. let, v. See
{Let} to permit, and cf. {Alas}, {Lassitude}.]
1. Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or
proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a
late spring.
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2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of
the day; a late period of life.
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3. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not
now; recently deceased, departed, or gone out of office;
as, the late bishop of London; the late administration.
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4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the
late rains; we have received late intelligence.
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5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night;
as, late revels; a late watcher.
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Latter \Lat"ter\, a. [OE. later, l[ae]tter, compar. of lat late.
See {Late}, and cf. {Later}.]
1. Later; more recent; coming or happening after something
else; -- opposed to {former}; as, the former and latter
rain.
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2. Of two things, the one mentioned second.
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The difference between reason and revelation, and in
what sense the latter is superior. --I. Watts.
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3. Recent; modern.
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Hath not navigation discovered in these latter ages,
whole nations at the bay of Soldania? --Locke.
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4. Last; latest; final. [R.] "My latter gasp." --Shak.
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{Latter harvest}, the last part of the harvest.

{Latter spring}, the last part of the spring of the year.
--Shak.
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