■ adjective
1》 acting, arriving, or happening after the expected or usual time.
2》 belonging or taking place far on in a particular time or period.
3》 far on in the day or night.
4》 ( the/one's ~ ) (of a specified person) no longer alive.
↘no longer having the specified status; former.
5》 ( ~st ) of most recent date or origin.
■ adverb
1》 after the expected or usual time.
2》 towards the end of a period.
3》 far on in the day or night.
4》 ( ~r ) at a time in the near future; afterwards.
5》 ( ~ of ) formerly but not now living or working in a specified place or institution.
■ noun ( the ~st ) the most recent news or fashion.
Phrases
at the ~st no ~r than the time specified.
~ in the day (or N. Amer. game ) at a ~ stage in proceedings.
of ~ recently.
Derivatives
~ness noun
Origin
OE læt (adjective), ~ (adverb), of Gmc origin.