last 1
/last, lahst/ , adj. a superl. of late with later as compar.
1. occurring or coming after all others, as in time, order, or place: the last line on a page.
2. most recent; next before the present; latest: last week; last Friday.
3. being the only one remaining: my last dollar; the last outpost; a last chance.
4. final: in his last hours.
5. ultimate or conclusive; definitive: the last word in the argument.
6. lowest in prestige or importance: last prize.
7. coming after all others in suitability or likelihood; least desirable: He is the last person we'd want to represent us.
8. individual; single: The lecture won't start until every last person is seated.
9. utmost; extreme: the last degree of delight.
10. Eccles. (of the sacraments of penance, viaticum, or extreme unction) extreme or final; administered to a person dying or in danger of dying.
adv.
11. after all others; latest: He arrived last at the party.
12. on the most recent occasion: When last seen, the suspect was wearing a checked suit.
13. in the end; finally; in conclusion.
n.
14. a person or thing that is last.
15. a final appearance or mention: We've seen the last of her. That's the last we'll hear of it.
16. the end or conclusion: We are going on vacation the last of September.
17. at last , after a lengthy pause or delay: He was lost in thought for several minutes, but at last he spoke.
18. at long last , after much troublesome or frustrating delay: The ship docked at long last.
19. breathe one's last , to die: He was nearly 90 when he breathed his last.
[ bef. 900; ME last, latst, syncopated var. of LATEST, OE latest, laetest, superl. of laet, LATE ]
Syn. 1. LAST, FINAL, ULTIMATE refer to what comes as an ending. That which is LAST comes or stands after all others in a stated series or succession; LAST may refer to objects or activities: a seat in the last row; the last game. That which is FINAL comes at the end, or serves to end or terminate, admitting of nothing further; FINAL is rarely used of objects: to make a final attempt. That which is ULTIMATE (literally, most remote) is the last that can be reached, as in progression or regression, experience, or a course of investigation: ultimate truths.
last 2
/last, lahst/ , v.i.
1. to go on or continue in time: The festival lasted three weeks.
2. to continue unexpended or unexhausted; be enough: We'll enjoy ourselves while our money lasts.
3. to continue in force, vigor, effectiveness, etc.: to last for the whole course.
4. to continue or remain in usable condition for a reasonable period of time: They were handsome shoes but they didn't last.
v.t.
5. to continue to survive for the duration of (often fol. by out ): They lasted the war in Switzerland.
[ bef. 900; ME lasten, OE laestan to follow (lit., go in the tracks of), perform, continue, last; c. G laisten to follow, Goth laistjan. See LAST 3 ]
Syn. 1. See continue .
last 3
— laster , n.
/last, lahst/ , n.
1. a wooden or metal form in the shape of the human foot on which boots or shoes are shaped or repaired.
2. the shape or form of a shoe.
3. stick to one's last , to keep to that work, field, etc., in which one is competent or skilled.
v.t.
4. to shape on or fit to a last.
[ bef. 900; ME lest ( e ), last ( e ), OE laeste; c. G Leisten; akin to OE last, Goth laists track ]
last 4
/last, lahst/ , n.
any of various large units of weight or capacity, varying in amount in different localities and for different commodities, often equivalent to 4000 pounds (1814.37 kilograms).
[ bef. 900; ME; OE hlaest; c. D last, G Last load; akin to LADE ]