Latter

3 definitions found

From 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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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  latter
       adj : referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned
             (or the last one or ones of several); "in the latter
             case" [syn: {latter(a)}] [ant: {former(a)}]
       n : the second of two or the second mentioned of two; "Tom and
           Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered
           today" [ant: {former}]