/ ˈlætə(r); NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
being the second of two things, people or groups that have just been mentioned, or the last in a list :
The latter point is the most important.
2.
nearer to the end of a period of time than the beginning :
the latter half of the year
—compare former
■ noun
the latter ( pl. the latter ) the second of two things, people or groups that have just been mentioned, or the last in a list :
He presented two solutions. The latter seems much better.
The town has a concert hall and two theatres. The latter were both built in the 1950s.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English lætra slower , comparative of læt , of Germanic origin; related to German lass , from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus weary and let .