[last] vb [ME, fr. OE laestan to last, follow; akin to OE last footprint] vi (bef. 12c) 1: to continue in time
2. a: to remain fresh or unimpaired: endure b: to manage to continue (as in a course of action) c: to continue to live ~ vt 1: to continue in existence or action as long as or longer than--often used with out "couldn't ~ out the training program"
2: to be enough for the needs of "the supplies will ~ them a week" syn see continue -- last.er n
[2]last n [ME, fr. OE laeste, fr. last footprint; akin to OHG leist shoemaker's last, L lira furrow--more at learn] (bef. 12c): a form (as of metal or plastic) which is shaped like the human foot and over which a shoe is shaped or repaired [3]last vt (ca. 1859): to shape with a last -- last.er n [4]last adv [ME, fr. OE latost, superl. of laet late] (bef. 12c) 1: after all others: at the end "came ~ and left first"
2: most lately "saw him ~ in Rome"
3: in conclusion "~, let's consider the social aspect" [5]last adj (13c) 1 a: following all the rest "he was the ~ one out" b: being the only remaining "our ~ dollar"
2. a: belonging to the final stage (as of life) "his ~ hours on earth" b: administered to the seriously sick or dying "the ~ rites of the church" 3 a: next before the present: most recent "~ week" "his ~ book was a failure" b: most up-to-date: latest "it's the ~ thing in fashion"
4. a: lowest in rank or standing; also: worst b: farthest from a specified quality, attitude, or likelihood "would be the ~ person to fall for flattery"
5. a: conclusive "there is no ~ answer to the problem" b: highest in degree: supreme, ultimate c: distinct, separate--used as an intensive "ate every ~ piece of food" -- last.ly adv syn last, final, terminal, eventual, ultimate mean following all others (as in time, order, or importance). last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped "last page of a book" "last news we had of him". final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress "final day of school". terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development "terminal phase of a disease". eventual applies to something that is bound to follow sooner or later as the final effect of causes already operating "eventual defeat of the enemy". ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible "the ultimate collapse of the system". [6]last n (13c): something that is last -- at last or at long last : at the end of a period of time: finally "at last you've come home"