[lat-er] 
| 1. | being the second mentioned of two (distinguished from former ): I prefer the latter offer to the former one. |
| 2. | more advanced in time; later: in these latter days of human progress. |
| 3. | near or comparatively near to the end: the latter part of the century. |
| 4. | Obsolete. last; final. |
[leyt] adjective, lat⋅er or lat⋅ter, lat⋅est or last, adverb lat⋅er, lat⋅est.| 1. | occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring. |
| 2. | continued until after the usual time or hour; protracted: a late business meeting. |
| 3. | near or at the end of day or well into the night: a late hour. |
| 4. | belonging to the time just before the present moment; most recent: a late news bulletin. |
| 5. | immediately preceding the present one; former: the late attorney general. |
| 6. | recently deceased: the late Mr. Phipps. |
| 7. | occurring at an advanced stage in life: a late marriage. |
| 8. | belonging to an advanced period or stage in the history or development of something: the late phase of feudalism. |
| 9. | after the usual or proper time, or after delay: to arrive late. |
| 10. | until after the usual time or hour; until an advanced hour, esp. of the night: to work late. |
| 11. | at or to an advanced time, period, or stage: The flowers keep their blossoms late in warm climates. |
| 12. | recently but no longer: a man late of Chicago, now living in Philadelphia. |
| 13. | of late, lately; recently: The days have been getting warmer of late. |
| lat·ter (lāt'ər) adj.
[Middle English, later, from Old English lætra; see lē- in Indo-European roots.] lat'ter·ly adv. |