later

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   comparative of the adverb 'late'

   I stayed later than you did.

2. 2
   adv

   comparative form of late: more late

   You came in late yesterday and today you came in even later.

3. 3
   adv

   Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).

   My roommate arrived first. I arrived later.

4. 4
   adv

   At some unspecified time in the future.

   I wanted to do it now, but I’ll have to do it later.

5. 5
   adv

   What if (something problematic or unanticipated happens); if not (something undesirable will happen).

   Compare Malay nanti (“later; if not”)

6. 6
   adj

   comparative form of late: more late

   Jim was later than John.

7. 7
   adj

   Coming afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).

   The Victorian era is a later period of English history than the Elizabethan era.

8. 8
   adj

   Coming afterward in distance (following an antecedent distance as embedded within an adverbial phrase)

   I felt some leg pain during the first mile of my run and I strained my calf two miles later.

Etymology

* Adverb: From Middle English later, latere, from Old English lator, equivalent to late + -er. * Adjective: From Middle English later, latere, from Old English lætra, equivalent to late + -er. Cognate with Saterland Frisian leeter (“later”), West Frisian letter (“later”), Dutch later (“later”), German Low German later (“later”).