of late

late  (lt)

adj. lat·er, lat·est

1. Coming, occurring, or remaining after the correct, usual, or expected time; delayed: The bus is late. See Synonyms at tardy.

2.

a. Beginning after or continuing past the usual or expected hour: a late breakfast; a late meeting.

b. Occurring at an advanced hour, especially well into the evening or night: a late movie on television; the late flight to Denver.

3. Of or toward the end or more advanced part, as of a period or stage: the late 19th century; a later symptom of the disease.

4.

a. Having begun or occurred just previous to the present time; recent: a late development.

b. Contemporary; up-to-date: the latest fashion.

5.

a. Having recently occupied a position or place: the company's late president gave the address.

b. Dead, especially if only recently deceased: in memory of the late explorer.

adv. later, latest

1. After the expected, usual, or proper time: a train that arrived late; woke late and had to skip breakfast.

2.

a. At or until an advanced hour: talked late into the evening.

b. At or into an advanced period or stage: a project undertaken late in her career.

3. Recently: As late as last week he was still in town.

Idiom:

of late

Recently; lately: was feeling better of late.

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[Middle English, from Old English læt; see l- in Indo-European roots.]

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lateness n.

Usage Note: It is technically correct to use a phrase such as our late treasurer to refer to a person who is still alive but who no longer holds the relevant post, but the use of former in this context will ensure that no embarrassing misunderstanding is created.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

of late - in the recent past; "he was in Paris recently"; "lately the rules have been enforced"; "as late as yesterday she was fine"; "feeling better of late"; "the spelling was first affected, but latterly the meaning also" lately, latterly, recently, late