Late
WordNet
adjective
(1) Being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
"Late evening"
"Late 18th century"
"A late movie"
"Took a late flight"
"Had a late breakfast"
(2) At or toward an end or late period or stage of development
"The late phase of feudalism"
"A later symptom of the disease"
"Later medical science could have saved the child"
(3) Of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages
"Late Greek"
(4) After the expected or usual time; delayed
"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"
adverb
(5) Later than usual or than expected
"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"
(6) In the recent past
"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"
(7) To an advanced time
"Deep into the night"
"Talked late into the evening"
(8) At an advanced age or stage
"She married late"
"Undertook the project late in her career"
WiktionaryText
Adjective
- Near the end of a period of time.
- It was late in the evening when we finally arrived.
- Specifically, near the end of the day.
- It was getting late and I was tired.
- Associated with the end of a period.
- Late Latin is less fully inflected than classical Latin.
- Not arriving until after an expected time.
- Even though we drove as fast as we could, we were still late.
- Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the valid excuse of being in hospital - in intensive care - for most of the night.
- Deceased, dead: (Often used with ; see usage notes.)
- Her late husband had left her well provided for.
- The piece was composed by the late Igor Stravinsky.
- Recent -- relative to the noun it modifies.
- 1914 Robert Frost, North of Boston, "A Hundred Collars":
- 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 [...]
- 1914 Robert Frost, North of Boston, "A Hundred Collars":