Middle English Dictionary Entry
lātest(e adj. superlative
Entry Info
| Forms | lātest(e adj. superlative Also lattest. |
| Etymology | From lāt(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. last(e adj.
1.
(a) Last, final; ~ daies, the last days before the end of the world; ~ tocome, the last coming, the Second Advent of Christ; (b) slowest; (c) as noun: the last in space, the rear of an army; (d) at the ~, finally, at last.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)5 : Of ðe lateste to-cume specð þe holie boc on oðer stede.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)205/15 : In the latyste dayes, ther shullyn be Perillous tymes, And men Shullyn be lowynge ham-Selfe, couetous, Prowte.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.363 : The see grauel is lattest for to drye.
c
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)52/1 : Geraud and Alexander, thegh thay wer fyrst y-sete yn þe latest of þe host, throgh kynd stalwardnesse hertly smytten out to the formest & many dydden to deth.
d
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.95 : He þat ofte haueþ chaffared, Þat ay hath lost and lost, and at þe latiste hym happed He bouhte suche a bargayn.