Middle English Dictionary Entry
lāter(e adv. comparative
Entry Info
| Forms | lāter(e adv. comparative Also latre & lattre, latter(e & leter, leatere. |
| Etymology | OE lator, Merc. *leator; comp. of late. ME forms with -tt- usually have unlengthened vowel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. lat(e, last(e.
1.
(a) At a later time; ~ or (other) rather, rather other ~, er or ~, sooner or later; (b) more tardily.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13206 : Sannt Anndrew..wass Petress broþerr, & tohh þatt Sannte Peterr wass Ær borenn..Þohhwheþþre comm he lattre till To lefenn uppo Criste.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)231 : Hwet bute icome, sum cofer, sum later, sum frend, sum fend.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)131 : A hwilke time se eure Mon of þinchþ his misdede, Oþer raþer oðer later [vr. Oþer later oþer raþer], milce he scal imeten.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)68b/a : Here aftir brediþ & springiþ of oþer membres lattere þan þese, as hondes, & feet & oþer soche, þat ben I-schape not al at ones but litil & litil, som aftir som.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)19/18 : And bot a man be his disciple sumtyme of his lif, eer or lattere, holdynge on to his lyues ende, he comeþ neuer into þe blisse of heuene.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)27/3 : Þai sal haue at ete alle timis þat tay haue mister of, bot til þe hale..and til þe yunge sal man giue latter [L tardius].
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)411/26 : Manye ben sent into þis vyneȝerd in childheed for to tilie it, & summe entren lattire, & summe in her oold age.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)101b/b : Rasis saith þat, þe latter þat it be lousede, so moche þe bettre.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)52/11 : There was neuer seint..but þat later or raþer was tempted.
b
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1020 : Horn was in þe watere; Ne miȝte he come no latere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.971 : He that ofte falleth in synne, he despiseth the mercy of god..and the latter ariseth and is the moore eschew for to shryuen hym.
2.
At a later point in a book, chapter, or written explanation; more recently in a book.
Associated quotations
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)15 : Sainte poul..munegeð us..to done þe six dede þe ich later nemnede.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)10/15 : Seggeð ȝe beoð ba twa þurh þe grace of godd & of sein iames ordre, þet he wrat leatere [Nero: latere; Recl.: last] 'Inmaculatum se custodire,' [etc.].
3.
(a) More slowly; less readily; (b) more rarely; (c) never-the ~, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)15 : Gif þu dest þin uuel onȝein his uuel, Swa muchel þa wredða bid þe mare bi-twenen eow..and ec leter ȝe beoð sahte.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31710 : Nis þar nan betere red..& ȝif [þu] þat nult don, þu scalt wurse afon, & alle þine leoden þa later þu hafuest to neoden.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)168/13 : Se me deoppre wadeð i þe feondes leiuen, se me kimeð up leatere [Nero: later; Recl.: latter].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)963 : Wenstu þat uise men forlete, For fule venne, þe riȝtte strete? Ne sunne þe later shine Þeȝ hit bo ful ine nest þine?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)65b/a : Kynde doþ for wel grete nede to tempere with moisture and fatnes; So synowis and felles þat ben kindeliche drie þat þey breke þe latter in hap þat myȝte falle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)74b/a : Som mete turneþ sone in to blood, For his substancial moisture & hete for lyknes þat he hath to blood; & som for þe contrarie cause turneþ latter [L tardius] in to blood.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.173 : Þere [?read: Þat] is no treuþe of trinite but a treccherie of helle And a lering to þe lewide men þe lattere [vrr. the lighter, þe wors] to dele.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)419 : Bot so mikel þe latter sal we gif faith til any dreme.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)34a/b : Þese litil ribbis..þoruȝ þeir plicacioun & foldynge & litil resistence, þei schulden þe lattere be y-broken.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)64b/b : Þe pacientis greuaunce schulde be þe more encreessid & þe wounde also be þe lattere heelid.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)220/24 : More latre Is he wourthe [i.e., wroth] than a colerike man, but he holdyth longyr wreth.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)240/3 : Man sholde vse suffumygacionys of herbis..for that opynyth the closures of the brayne..and the latre a man wexit hore.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)217/23 : Þe enpostyms..in þis place comeþ of blood or of fleume, & ful seelden [L rarius] it comeþ of colre, & more lattere [L rarissime] of malancoli.