/ˈleɪ.tə/, /ˈleɪ.tɚ/, [ˈleɪ̯.ɾɚ]
Origin* 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”).
- comparative, form-ofcomparative form of late: more late
“You came in late yesterday and today you came in even later.”
- Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
“My roommate arrived first. I arrived later.”
“I arrived later than my roommate.”
- At some unspecified time in the future.
“I wanted to do it now, but I’ll have to do it later.”
- Manglish, SinglishWhat if (something problematic or unanticipated happens); if not (something undesirable will happen).
“Compare Malay nanti (“later; if not”)”
“Later you fall asleep how?” — What if you fall asleep?
- comparative, form-ofcomparative form of late: more late
“Jim was later than John.”
- 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.”
“The eldest son was usually given the name of his paternal grandfather, later children those of other relatives.”
- 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.”
- At some time in the future.
“The meeting was adjourned to a later date.”
- slangSee you later; goodbye.