latter

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: latter(a)

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the second of two or the second mentioned of two“Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered today”

Adjective (1)

  1. referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)“in the latter case”Synonyms: latter(a)
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Late \Late\ (l[=a]t), a. [Compar. Later (l[=a]t"[~e]r), or latter (l[a^]t"t[~e]r); superl. Latest (l[=a]t"[e^]st) or Last (l[.a]st).] [OE. lat slow, slack, AS. l[ae]t; akin to OS. lat, D. laat late, G. lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel. latr, Sw. lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats, and to E. let, v. See Let to permit, and cf. Alas, Lassitude.]

1.Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a late spring. [1913 Webster]

2.Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of the day; a late period of life. [1913 Webster]

3.Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; recently deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as, the late bishop of London; the late administration. [1913 Webster]

4.Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the late rains; we have received late intelligence. [1913 Webster]

5.Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; as, late revels; a late watcher. [1913 Webster]

Latter \Lat"ter\, a. [OE. later, l[ae]tter, compar. of lat late. See Late, and cf. Later.]

1.Later; more recent; coming or happening after something else; -- opposed to former; as, the former and latter rain. [1913 Webster]

2.Of two things, the one mentioned second. [1913 Webster]

The difference between reason and revelation, and in what sense the latter is superior.— I. Watts.[1913 Webster]

3.Recent; modern. [1913 Webster]

Hath not navigation discovered in these latter ages, whole nations at the bay of Soldania?— Locke.[1913 Webster]

4.Last; latest; final. [R.] "My latter gasp." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Latter harvest, the last part of the harvest.

Latter spring, the last part of the spring of the year. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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