Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 832

At last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. The duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." Motley. -- At the last. [Prob. fr. AS. on lāste behind, following behind, fr. lāst race, track, footstep. See Last mold of the foot.] At the end; in the conclusion. [Obs.] Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." Gen. xlix. 19. -- Last heir, the person to whom lands escheat for want of an heir. [Eng.] Abbott. -- On one's last legs, at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. [Colloq.] -- To breathe one's last, to die. -- To the last, to the end; till the conclusion.

And blunder on in business to the last. Pope.

Syn. -- At Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have at last arrived.<-- "eventually" also suggests a (relatively) long interval, but does not specifically imply any interruptions -->

Last

Last (?), adv. [See Last, a.]

1. At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.

2. In conclusion; finally.<-- = lastly -->

Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires. Dryden.

3. At a time next preceding the present time.

How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask ? Shak.

Last

Last, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lasting.] [OE. lasten, As. læstan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. lāst, lst, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform, Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.]

1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.

[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted. Testament of Love.

2. To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

Last

Last, n. [AS. lāsttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. läst, Dan. læst, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.] A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.

The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. L'Estrange.

Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.

Last

Last, v. t. To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

Last

Last, n. [As. hlæst, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G., D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.]

1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

2. The burden of a ship; a cargo.

Lastage

Last"age (?) n. [E. lestage ballasting, fr. lest ballast, or LL. lastagium, lestagium. See Last a load.]

1. A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will. [Obs.]

2. A tax on wares sold by the last. [Obs.] Cowell.

3. The lading of a ship; also, ballast. Spelman.

4. Room for stowing goods, as in a ship.

Laste

Last"e (?), obs. imp. of Last, to endure. Chaucer.

Laster

Last"er, n. A workman whose business it is to shape boots or shoes, or place leather smoothly, on lasts; a tool for stretching leather on a last.

Laster-y

Last"er-y (?), n. A red color.[Obs.] Spenser.

Lasting

Last"ing, a. Existing or continuing a long while; enduring; as, a lasting good or evil; a lasting color. Syn. -- Durable; permanent; undecaying; perpetual; unending. -- Lasting, Permanent, Durable. Lasting commonly means merely continuing in existence; permanent carries the idea of continuing in the same state, position, or course; durable means lasting in spite of agencies which tend to destroy.

Lasting

Last"ing, n.

1. Continuance; endurance. Locke.

2. A species of very durable woolen stuff, used for women's shoes; everlasting.

3. The act or process of shaping on a last.

Lasting

Last"ing, adv. In a lasting manner.

Lastly

Last"ly, adv.

1. In the last place; in conclusion.

2. at last; finally.

Lat

Lat (?), v. t. To let; to allow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Latakia

Lat`a*ki"a (?), n. [Turk.] A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.

Latch

Latch (?), v. t. [Cf. F. lécher to lick (of German origin). Cf. Lick.] To smear; to anoint. [Obs.] Shak.

Latch

Latch, n. [OE. lacche, fr. lacchen to seize, As. læccan.]

1. That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

2. A movable piece which holds anything in place by entering a notch or cavity; specifically, the catch which holds a door or gate when closed, though it be not bolted.

3. (Naut.) A latching.

4. A crossbow. [Obs.] Wright.

Latch

Latch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Latched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Latching.] [OE.lacchen. See Latch. n.]

1. To catch so as to hold. [Obs.]

Those that remained threw darts at our men, and latching our darts, sent them again at us. Golding.

2. To catch or fasten by means of a latch.

The door was only latched. Locke.

Latchet

Latch"et (?), n. [OE. lachet, from an OF. dialect form of F. lacet plaited string, lace dim. of lacs. See Lace.] The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

Latching

Latch"ing, n. (Naut.) A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also latch and lasket. [Usually in pl.]

Latchkey

Latch"key` (?), n. A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch.

Latchstring

Latch"string` (?), n. A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door. To find the latchstring out, to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) [Colloq. U.S.]

Late

Late (?), a. [Compar. Later (?), or latter (); superl. Latest (?).] [OE. lat slow, slack, As.læt; 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.

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

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

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

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

Late

Late, adv. [AS. late. See Late, a.]

1. After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late; -- opposed to early.

2. Not long ago; lately.

3. Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night. Of late, in time not long past, or near the present; lately; as, the practice is of late uncommon. -- Too late, after the proper or available time; when the time or opportunity is past.

Lated

Lat"ed (?), a. Belated; too late. [Obs.] Shak.
La-teen
La-teen" (?), a. (Naut.) Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa. See below. Lateen sail. [F. voile latine a sail in the shape of a right-angled triangle; cf. It. & Sp. vela latina; properly Latin sail. See Latin.] (Naut.) A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung at about one fourth of its length from the lower end, to a low mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five degrees; -- used in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc., especially in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some lateen sails have also a boom on the lower side.
Lately
Late"ly (?), adv. Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived from Italy.
Latence
La"tence (?), n. Latency. Coleridge.

Latency

La"ten*cy (?), n. [See Latent.] The state or quality of being latent.

To simplify the discussion, I shall distinguish three degrees of this latency. Sir W. Hamilton.

Lateness

Late"ness (?), n. The state, condition, or quality, of being late; as, the lateness of his arrival; the lateness of the hour; the lateness of the season.

Latent

La"tent (?), a. [L. latens, -entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. , E. lethargy: cf. F.latent.] Not visible or apparent; hidden; springs of action.

The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise. Burke.

Latent buds (bot.), buds which remain undeveloped or dormant for a long time, but may at length grow. Latent heat (Physics), that quantity of heat which disappears or becomes concealed in a body while producing some change in it other than rise of temperature, as fusion, evaporation, or expansion, the quantity being constant for each particular body and for each species of change. -- Latent period. (a) (Med.) The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing without manifesting itself. (b) (Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.) One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed activity.

Latently

La"tent*ly, adv. In a secret or concealed manner; invisibly.

Later

La"ter (?), n.; pl. Lateres (#). [L.] A brick or tile. Knight.

Later

Lat"er (?), a. Compar. of Late, a. & adv.

Laterad

Lat"er*ad (?), adv. [L. latus, lateris, side + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the side; away from the mesial plane; -- opposed to mesiad.

Lateral

Lat"er*al (?), a. [L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side: cf. F.latéral.]

1. Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.

2. (Anat.) Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; -- opposed to mesial.

3. Directed to the side; as, a lateral view of a thing. Lateral cleavage (Crystallog.), cleavage parallel to the lateral planes. -- Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree. [Obs.] -- Lateral line (Anat.), in fishes, a line of sensory organs along either side of the body, often marked by a distinct line of color. -- Lateral pressure or stress (Mech.), a pressure or stress at right angles to the length, as of a beam or bridge; -- distinguished from longitudinal pressure or stress. -- Lateral strength (Mech.), strength which resists a tendency to fracture arising from lateral pressure. -- Lateral system (Bridge Building), the system of horizontal braces (as between two vertical trusses) by which lateral stiffness is secured.

Laterality

Lat`er*al"i*ty (?), n. The state or condition of being lateral.
Laterally
Lat"er*al*ly (?), adv. By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the side.
Lateran
Lat"er*an (?), n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world. &hand; The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.

Latered

Lat"ered (?), a. Inclined to delay; dilatory. [Obs.] When a man is too latered." Chaucer.

Laterifolious

Lat`er*i*fo"li*ous (?), a. [L. latus, lateris, side + folium leaf: cf. F. latérifolié.] (Bot.) Growing from the stem by the side of a leaf; as, a laterifolious flower.

Laterite

Lat"er*ite (?), n. [L. later brick, tile: cf. F. latérite.] (Geol.)An argillaceous sandstone, of a red color, and much seamed; -- found in India.

Later-itic

Lat`er-it"ic (?), a. consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.

Lateritic

Lat`er*it"ic (?), a. Consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.

Lateritious

Lat"er*i"tious (?), a. [L.lateritius, fr. later a brick.] Like bricks; of the color of red bricks. Lateritious sediment (Med.), a sediment in urine resembling brick dust, observed after the crises of fevers, and at the termination of gouty paroxysms. It usually consists of uric acid or urates with some coloring matter.

Lates

La"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. a fish of the Nile.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large percoid fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus) inhabits the Nile, and another (L. calcariferLatescence La*tes"cence (?), n. A slight withdrawal from view or knowledge. Sir W. Hamilton.

Latescent

La*tes"cent (?), a. [L. latescens, -entis, p. pr. of latescere to be concealed, fr. latere to be hid.] Slightly withdrawn from view or knowledge; as, a latescent meaning. Sir W. Hamilton.

Latewake

Late"wake` (?), n. See Lich wake, under Lich.

Lateward

Late"ward (?), a. & adv. Somewhat late; backward. [Obs.] Lateward lands." Holland.

Latex

La"tex (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A milky or colored juice in certain plants in cavities (called latex cells or latex tubes). It contains the peculiar principles of the plants, whether aromatic, bitter, or acid, and in many instances yields caoutchouc upon coagulation. <-- produced_by ∧ contained_in latex cells, -->

Lath

Lath (?), n.; pl. Laths (#). [OE. laththe, latthe, latte, AS. lætta; akin to D. lat, G. latte, OHG. latta; cf. W. llath a rod, staff, yard. Cf. Lattice, Latten.] A thin, narrow strip of wood, nailed to the rafters, studs, or floor beams of a building, for the purpose of supporting the tiles, plastering, etc. A corrugated metallic strip or plate is sometimes used. Lath brick, a long, slender brick, used in making the floor on which malt is placed in the drying kiln. Lath nail a slender nail for fastening laths.

Lath

Lath (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lathed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lathing.] To cover or line with laths.

Lathe

Lathe (?), n. [AS.l&aemac;&edh;. Of. uncertain origin.] Formerly, a part or division of a county among the Anglo-Saxons. At present it consists of four or five hundreds, and is confined to the county of Kent. [Written also lath.] Brande & C.

Lathe

Lathe (?), n. [OE. lathe a granary; akin to G. lade a chest, Icel. hla&edh;a a storehouse, barn; but cf. also Icel. lö&edh; a smith's lathe. Senses 2 and 3 are perh. of the same origin as lathe a granary, the original meaning being, a frame to hold something. If so, the word is from an older form of E. lade to load. See Lade to load.]

1. A granary; a barn. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. (Mach.) A machine for turning, that is, for shaping articles of wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted upon by a cutting tool. <-- "turning" here is in the sense of cutting while turning. turn 6 and turning 4, in this dict. -->

3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for separating the warp threads and beating up the weft; -- called also lay and batten. Blanchard lathe, a lathe for turning irregular forms after a given pattern, as lasts, gunstocks, and the like. -- Drill lathe, ∨ Speed lathe, a small lathe which, from its high speed, is adapted for drilling; a hand lathe. -- Engine lathe, a turning lathe in which the cutting tool has an automatic feed; -- used chiefly for turning and boring metals, cutting screws, etc. -- Foot lathe, a lathe which is driven by a treadle worked by the foot. -- Geometric lathe. See under Geometric -- Hand lathe, a lathe operated by hand; a power turning lathe without an automatic feed for the tool. -- Slide lathe, an engine lathe. -- Throw lathe, a small lathe worked by one hand, while the cutting tool is held in the other.