late
late Lexical Profile
late Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Doing something or taking place after the expected, proper, or usual time.
"The commuter train was ten minutes late due to signal maintenance along the track."
Belonging or taking place far on in a particular period of time, day, or stage of development.
"They enjoyed a quiet walk through the botanical gardens in the late afternoon."
No longer alive; recently deceased (used attributively before a noun or title).
"The university library was dedicated to the memory of her late grandfather."
Of recent date, occurrence, or formerly holding a specified position.
"The late floods in the valley prompted officials to redesign the town's drainage system."
• adverb
After the expected, arranged, or usual time.
"He arrived late to the conference because his morning flight was delayed by fog."
Far on in the day, night, or a specified period of time.
"The research team worked late into the evening to complete the laboratory analysis."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adverb, 'late' means after the expected or usual time (e.g., 'She arrived late'), whereas 'lately' means recently or not long ago (e.g., 'Have you seen her lately?'). When used as an adjective meaning 'deceased', 'late' is restricted to attributive positions before a noun (e.g., 'her late husband').
• Rhymes for late
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'læt', meaning slow, sluggish, or tardy, derived from the Proto-Germanic root '*lataz' (slack or weary), sharing a common ancestor with the verb 'let'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.