last, latest

last, latest
The adjective and adverb late has later for its comparative degree and last and latest as the superlative. Both superlatives mean "coming after all others," but last has more extended meanings than latest. Latest is restricted to a meaning of "current" and "most recent": "This is the latest bulletin on the disaster." "His suit was cut in the latest style." Last means "final" (in his last illness); "conclusive" (the last word in the argument); "extreme" (the last degree of agony); "pertaining to the end" (the last day of the year); and "single" (every last seat in the house). Remember that last suggests an end, a finality, that latest does not: "Let's hope his latest mistake will be his last." "When I last saw her, she was excited about her latest boyfriend."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • last, latest —    Various authorities have issued various strictures against using last when you mean latest. Clearly, last should not be used when it might be misinterpreted, as in the last episode of the television series when you mean the most recent but not …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • last, latest —    Various authorities have issued various strictures against using last when you mean latest. Clearly, last should not be used when it might be misinterpreted, as in the last episode of the television series when you mean the most recent but not …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • last — vb endure, *continue, abide, persist Analogous words: survive, outlast, *outlive: remain, *stay Antonyms: fleet last adj Last, latest, final, terminal, concluding, eventual, ultimate are comparable when they mean following all the others in time… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • latest — See last, latest …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • last — See last, latest …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Last glacial period — Last glacial redirects here. For the period of maximum glacier extent during this time, see Last Glacial Maximum. The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the… …   Wikipedia

  • last - lastly — Last is used as an adjective or an adverb. ◊ last used as an adjective The last thing, event, or person of a particular kind is the one that comes after all the others. He missed the last bus. They met for the last time just before the war. He… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Last — (l[.a]st), a. [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See {Late}, and cf. {Latest}.] 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Last heir — Last Last (l[.a]st), a. [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See {Late}, and cf. {Latest}.] 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • last —  , latest  Various authorities have issued various strictures against using last when you mean latest. Clearly, last should not be used when it might be misinterpreted, as in the last episode of the television series when you mean the most recent …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

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