latest, a.1 (adv., n.)
(ˈleɪtɪst)
Also 5 lattest.
[A mod. superlative f. late a.1 + -est, the connexion of last a. (repr. OE. latost, latst), with the positive having been obscured by its change of form and its independent sense-development.]
1. = last. Now arch. and poet.
| [c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 363 The see grauel is lattest for to drye, And lattest may thow therwith edifie.] 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 797 Now at the latest minute of the houre, Grant vs your loues. 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 29 Ile fight it out unto the latest man. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 28 To leaue that latest, which concernes him first. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 337 The thinnest or latest part of the milk of a Mare. 1619 Drayton Idea No. 61 Now at the last gaspe of Loues latest Breath. 1669 Dryden Tyr. Love v. 1 'Tis done, tyrant, this is thy latest hour. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc i. 320, I had her latest look of earthly love, I felt her hand's last pressure. 1821 Keats Isabella xliii, How she might..sing to it one latest lullaby. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 728 For Phillip's dwelling fronted on the street, The latest house to landward. 1883 R. W. Dixon Mano i. i. 1, I, Fergant, living now my latest days. |
| absol. c 1440 Girald. Hist. Irel. 26 Thay wer fyrst y-sete yn þe latest of þe host. |
2. a. Most late; most recent. Also
ellipt. as
n. in
the latest: the most recent story, piece of news, fashion, etc.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, v. vi. 1 The latest newes we heare, Is that [etc.]. 1825 Southey T. Paraguay Ded. viii, Take therefore now thy Father's latest lay,..Perhaps his last. 1884 Times (weekly ed.) 17 Oct. 3/2 The latest..of these speeches. 1884 Graphic 23 Aug. 198/1 The passengers in all except the latest trains are as a rule orderly enough. 1886 H. Baumann Londinismen 94/1 What's the latest: was gibt's Neues? 1889 Kansas City (Missouri) Times & Star 25 June, The latest the dear girls hereabouts are singing..is, Will he love you as today? 1900 F. Anstey Brass Bottle i. 5 Let's have a look at Beevor's latest performance. 1911 A. Bennett Card v. 128 This was Denry's ‘latest’, and it employed the conversation of the borough for I don't know how long. 1916 G. B. Shaw Matter with Ireland (1962) 95 If you want to dine in evening dress confronted with a bediamonded wife and flanked by daughters in the very latest,..you will be unhappy in Ireland. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 319 Well, says the citizen, what's the latest from the scene of action? 1940 War Illustr. 19 Jan. 623 The newsvendor who still stands shivering at his wintry pitch, lustily shouting ‘the latest’ when you can only discern him dimly by the glow of his cigarette. 1961 Wodehouse Service with Smile (1962) iv. 58 ‘I say,’ he said..‘have you heard the latest?’ |
b. Phr.
at (the) latest: at the most advanced hour, at the most distant date (
cf. at prep. 25 c).
| 1884 Times 30 Jan. 9/3 Between February, or March at latest, and May. |
3. quasi-adv. (
e.g. in
Comb. with
ppl. adjs.:
cf. late adv. 7).
| 1667 Milton P.L. v. 18 My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 150 Nursing the sickly babe, her latest-born. |