The DICT Development Group

  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.
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     2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of
        the day; a late period of life.
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     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.
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     4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the
        late rains; we have received late intelligence.
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     5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night;
        as, late revels; a late watcher.
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  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.
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     2. Of two things, the one mentioned second.
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              The difference between reason and revelation, and in
              what sense the latter is superior.    --I. Watts.
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     3. Recent; modern.
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              Hath not navigation discovered in these latter ages,
              whole nations at the bay of Soldania? --Locke.
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     4. Last; latest; final. [R.] "My latter gasp." --Shak.
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     Latter harvest, the last part of the harvest.
  
     Latter spring, the last part of the spring of the year.
        --Shak.
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  latter
      adj 1: referring to the second of two things or persons
             mentioned (or the last one or ones of several); "in the
             latter case" [ant: former(a)]
      n 1: the second of two or the second mentioned of two; "Tom and
           Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered
           today" [ant: former]