belated
belated Lexical Profile
belated Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Coming, happening, or offered later than should have been the case; delayed beyond the usual or expected time.
"She sent a belated birthday card to her brother after realizing she had missed the date."
Overtaken by nightfall or darkness while traveling (archaic).
"The belated travelers sought shelter at a roadside inn as the storm gathered."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict usage, 'belated' modifies the greeting, gift, or action rather than the occasion itself (e.g., 'belated birthday wishes' rather than 'happy belated birthday', since the birthday itself was not late), though the latter is widespread in informal speech.
• Rhymes for belated
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 17th century (notably used by John Milton) as the past participle of the now-obsolete verb 'belate' (from the prefix 'be-' + 'late'), which originally meant 'to overtake with nightfall' or 'to detain beyond the proper time'.