latter
lat·ter adjective, noun BrE [ˈlætə(r)] NAmE [ˈlætər]
adjective
1. being the second of two things, people or groups that have just been mentioned, or the last in a list
• The latter point is the most important.
2. nearer to the end of a period of time than the beginning
•the latter half of the year
•during the latter stages of the tournament
compare ↑former
Word Origin:
Old English lætra ‘slower’, comparative of læt, of Germanic origin; related to German lass, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus ‘weary’ and ↑let.
Example Bank:
•The latter half of the twentieth century saw huge growth in air travel.
noun the latter(pl. the latter)
the second of two things, people or groups that have just been mentioned, or the last in a list
• He presented two solutions. The latter seems much better.
• The town has a concert hall and two theatres. The latter were both built in the 1950s.
Word Origin:
[latter] Old English lætra ‘slower’, comparative of læt, of Germanic origin; related to German lass, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus ‘weary’ and ↑let.
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