Word Study
Last
CIDE DICTIONARY
Last, 3d pers. sing. pres.
of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth . Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
Last, 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.].
- Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance. [1913 Webster]"Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God." [1913 Webster]"Fairest of stars, last in the train of night." [1913 Webster]
- Next before the present; as, I saw him last week. [1913 Webster]
- Supreme; highest in degree; utmost. [1913 Webster]"Contending for principles of the last importance." [1913 Webster]
- Lowest in rank or degree; as, the a last place finish. Pope. [1913 Webster]
- Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft. [1913 Webster]"And blunder on in business to the last."
- At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York. [1913 Webster]
- In conclusion; finally; lastly. [1913 Webster]"Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires,
Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires." [1913 Webster] - At a time next preceding the present time. [1913 Webster]"How long is't now since last yourself and I
Were in a mask ?" [1913 Webster]
Last, v. i. [OE. lasten, As. læstan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. lāst, l, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform, Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.].
- To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence. [1913 Webster]"[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted." [1913 Webster]
- To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter. [1913 Webster]
Last, n. [AS. lāst trace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. läst, Dan. læst, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i. , Learn, Delirium.].
A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. [1913 Webster]
"The cobbler is not to go beyond his last." [1913 Webster]
Last, v. t.
To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot. [1913 Webster]
Last, n. [As. hlæst, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G., D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.].
- A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs. [1913 Webster]
- The burden of a ship; a cargo. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Last, adj., adv., & n.
--adj.
1 after all others; coming at or belonging to the end.
2 a most recent; next before a specified time (last Christmas; last week). b preceding; previous in a sequence (got on at the last station).
3 only remaining (the last biscuit; our last chance).
4 (prec. by the) least likely or suitable (the last person I'd want; the last thing I'd have expected).
5 the lowest in rank (the last place).
--adv.
1 after all others (esp. in comb.: last-mentioned).
2 on the last occasion before the present (when did you last see him?).
3 (esp. in enumerating) lastly.
--n.
1 a person or thing that is last, last-mentioned, most recent, etc.
2 (prec. by the) the last mention or sight etc. (shall never hear the last of it).
3 the last performance of certain acts (breathed his last).
4 (prec. by the) a the end or last moment. b death.
--adj.
1 after all others; coming at or belonging to the end.
2 a most recent; next before a specified time (last Christmas; last week). b preceding; previous in a sequence (got on at the last station).
3 only remaining (the last biscuit; our last chance).
4 (prec. by the) least likely or suitable (the last person I'd want; the last thing I'd have expected).
5 the lowest in rank (the last place).
--adv.
1 after all others (esp. in comb.: last-mentioned).
2 on the last occasion before the present (when did you last see him?).
3 (esp. in enumerating) lastly.
--n.
1 a person or thing that is last, last-mentioned, most recent, etc.
2 (prec. by the) the last mention or sight etc. (shall never hear the last of it).
3 the last performance of certain acts (breathed his last).
4 (prec. by the) a the end or last moment. b death.
Idiom
at last (or long last) in the end; after much delay. last agony the pangs of death. last ditch a place of final desperate defence (often (with hyphen) attrib.). Last Judgement see JUDGEMENT. last minute (or moment) the time just before an important event (often (with hyphen) attrib.). last name surname. last post see POST(3). last rites sacred rites for a person about to die. the last straw a slight addition to a burden or difficulty that makes it finally unbearable. the Last Supper that of Christ and his disciples on the eve of the Crucifixion, as recorded in the New Testament. last thing adv. very late, esp. as a final act before going to bed. the last word
1 a final or definitive statement (always has the last word; is the last word on this subject).
2 (often foll. by in) the latest fashion. on one's last legs see LEG. pay one's last respects see RESPECT. to (or till) the last till the end; esp. till death.
1 a final or definitive statement (always has the last word; is the last word on this subject).
2 (often foll. by in) the latest fashion. on one's last legs see LEG. pay one's last respects see RESPECT. to (or till) the last till the end; esp. till death.
Last, v.intr.
1 remain unexhausted or adequate or alive for a specified or considerable time; suffice (enough food to last us a week; the battery lasts and lasts).
2 continue for a specified time (the journey lasts an hour).
1 remain unexhausted or adequate or alive for a specified or considerable time; suffice (enough food to last us a week; the battery lasts and lasts).
2 continue for a specified time (the journey lasts an hour).
Idiom
last out remain adequate or in existence for the whole of a period previously stated or implied.
Last, n. a shoemaker's model for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.
Idiom
stick to one's last not meddle with what one does not understand.
Etymology
OE l{aelig}ste last, l{aelig}st boot, last footprint f. Gmc
DEVIL DICTIONARY
Last
n. A shoemaker's implement, named by a frowning Providence as opportunity to the maker of puns.
Ah, punster, would my lot were cast,
Where the cobbler is unknown,
So that I might forget his last
And hear your own.
Gargo Repsky
THESAURUS
Last
Z, abide, advance, aforegoing, after, aftermost, apodosis, at last, at length, at long last, at the end, at the last, be spared, behind, bide, bottommost, boundary, carry on, carry through, cast, catastrophe, caudal, ceasing, cessation, cheat death, closing, coda, collateral, coming, completing, completive, completory, concluding, conclusion, conclusive, conclusively, consummation, consummative, contingent, continue, continue to be, continue to exist, crack of doom, crowning, culminating, culmination, curtain, curtains, death, decease, decisive, defeat time, definitive, defy time, denouement, departing, destination, destiny, determinative, die, doom, dwell, effect, elapse, end, end point, ending, endmost, endure, envoi, epilogue, eschatology, eventual, eventually, exist, expiration, expire, extend, extreme, farewell, farthest, farthest out, fate, final, final solution, final twitch, final words, finale, finality, finalizing, finally, finis, finish, finishing, flit, flow, flow on, fly, foregoing, form, fulfilling, furthest, glide, go by, go on, goal, hang on, hindmost, hold, hold on, hold out, in conclusion, in fine, in the rear, indirect, intaglio, izzard, keep, keep alive, keep at, keep at it, keep driving, keep going, keep on, keep trying, keep up, lag, lapse, last breath, last gasp, last long, last out, last things, last trumpet, last words, lastly, latest, latter, latter end, leaving, limiting, live, live on, live through, maintain, matrix, mint, model, mold, most recent, mould, negative, newest, not accept compromise, omega, once for all, outermost, outward-bound, parting, pass, pass by, pattern, payoff, perdure, perennate, period, peroration, persevere, persist, polar, preceding, press on, prevail, proceed, punch, quietus, rearmost, remain, remotest, resolution, resting place, roll on, run, run its course, run on, run out, seal, secondary, shoe last, slide, slip, stamp, stand, stand up, stay, stay on, stoppage, stopping place, subsist, support life, survive, sustain, swan song, tail, tarry, template, term, terminal, terminating, termination, terminative, terminus, tide over, ultimate, ultimately, utmost, uttermost, valedictory, wear, wear well, windupROGET THESAURUS
Last
Existence
VB exist, be, have being, subsist, live, breathe, stand, obtain, be the case, occur, have place, prevail, find oneself, pass the time, vegetate, consist in, lie in, be comprised in, be contained in, be constituted by, come into existence, arise, come forth, become, bring into existence, abide, continue, endure, last, remain, stay.Prototype
N prototype, original, model, pattern, precedent, standard, ideal, reference, scantling, type, archetype, antitype, protoplast, module, exemplar, example, ensample, paradigm, lay-figure, text, copy, design, fugleman, keynote, die, mold, matrix, last, plasm, proplasm, protoplasm, mint, seal, punch, intaglio, negative, stamp, a precedent embalms a principle, exempla sunt odiosa.End
N end, close, termination, desinence, conclusion, finis, finale, period, term, terminus, endpoint, last, omega, extreme, extremity, gable end, butt end, fag-end, tip, nib, point, tail, verge, tag, peroration, bonne bouche, bottom dollar, tail end, rear guard, consummation, denouement, finish, fate, doom, doomsday, crack of doom, day of Judgment, dies irae, fall of the curtain, goal, destination, limit, determination, expiration, expiry, extinction, extermination, death, end of all things, finality, eschatology, break up, commencement de la fin, last stage, turning point, coup de grace, deathblow, knock-out-blow, sockdolager, ending, final, terminal, definitive, crowning, last, ultimate, hindermost, rear, caudal, vergent, conterminate, conterminous, conterminable, ended, at an end, settled, decided, over, played out, set at rest, conclusive, penultimate, last but one, last but two, unbegun, uncommenced, fresh, finally, in fine, at the last, once for all, as high as Heaven and as deep as hell, deficit omne quod nascitur, en toute chose il faut considerer la fin, finem respice, ultimus Romanorum, end, close, termination, desinence, conclusion, finis, finale, period, term, terminus, endpoint, last, omega, extreme, extremity, gable end, butt end, fag-end, tip, nib, point, tail, verge, tag, peroration, bonne bouche, bottom dollar, tail end, rear guard, consummation, denouement, finish, fate, doom, doomsday, crack of doom, day of Judgment, dies irae, fall of the curtain, goal, destination, limit, determination, expiration, expiry, extinction, extermination, death, end of all things, finality, eschatology, break up, commencement de la fin, last stage, turning point, coup de grace, deathblow, knock-out-blow, sockdolager, ending, final, terminal, definitive, crowning, last, ultimate, hindermost, rear, caudal, vergent, conterminate, conterminous, conterminable, ended, at an end, settled, decided, over, played out, set at rest, conclusive, penultimate, last but one, last but two, unbegun, uncommenced, fresh, finally, in fine, at the last, once for all, as high as Heaven and as deep as hell, deficit omne quod nascitur, en toute chose il faut considerer la fin, finem respice, ultimus Romanorum.Diuturnity
VB last, endure, stand, remain, abide, continue, brave a thousand years, tarry, drag on, drag its slow length along, drag a lengthening chain, protract, prolong, spin out, eke out, draw out, lengthen out, temporize, gain time, make time, talk against time, outlast, outlive, survive, live to fight again.The Past
N the past, past time, days of yore, times of yore, days of old, times of old, days past, times past, days gone by, times gone by, bygone days, old times, ancient times, former times, fore time, the good old days, the olden time, good old time, auld lang syne, eld, antiquity, antiqueness, status quo, time immemorial, distance of time, remote age, remote time, remote past, rust of antiquity, paleontology, paleography, paleology, paleozoology, palaetiology, archaeology, paleogeography, paleoecology, paleobotany, paleoclimatoogy, archaism, antiquarianism, medievalism, Pre-Raphaelitism, paleography, retrospect, retrospection, looking back, memory, laudator temporis acti, medievalist, Pre-Raphaelite, antiquary, antiquarian, archmologist, Oldbuck, Dryasdust, ancestry, past, gone, gone by, over, passed away, bygone, foregone, elapsed, lapsed, preterlapsed, expired, no more, run out, blown over, has-been, that has been, extinct, antediluvian, antebellum, never to return, gone with the wind, exploded, forgotten, irrecoverable, obsolete, former, pristine, quondam, ci-devant, late, ancestral, foregoing, last, latter, recent, over night, preterperfect, preterpluperfect, looking back, retrospective, retroactive, archaeological, paleo-, archaeo-, formerly, of old, of yore, erst, whilom, erewhile, time was, ago, over, in the olden time, anciently, long ago, long since, a long while, a long time ago, years ago, yesteryear, ages ago, some time ago, some time since, some time back, yesterday, the day before yesterday, last year, ultimo, lately, retrospectively, ere now, before now, till now, hitherto, heretofore, no longer, once, once upon a time, from time immemorial, from prehistoric times, in the memory of man, time out of mind, already, yet, up to this time, ex post facto, time was, the time has been, the time hath been, you can't go home again, fuimus Troes, fruit Ilium, hoc erat in more majorum, O call back yesterday, bid time return, tempi passati, the eternal landscape of the past, ultimus Romanorum, what's past is prologue, whose yesterdays look backward with a smile, Time with reference to a particular period.Permanence
VB let alone, let be, let it be, persist, remain, stay, tarry, rest, stet (copy editing) hold, hold on, last, endure, bide, abide, aby, dwell, maintain, keep, stand, stand still, stand fast, subsist, live, outlive, survive, hold one's ground, keep one's ground, hold one's footing, keep one's footing, hold good.For further exploring for "Last" in Webster Dictionary Online
