Part 6388

<h1>Last</h1> <Xpage=831>

<hw>Last</hw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>last</ets>, <ets>latst</ets>, contr. of <ets>latest</ets>, superl. of <ets>late</ets>; akin to OS. <ets>lezt</ets>, <ets>lazt</ets>, <ets>last</ets>, D. <ets>laatst</ets>, G. <ets>letzt.</ets> See <er>Late</er>, and cf. <er>Latest</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; <as>as, the <ex>last</ex> year of a century; the <ex>last</ex> man in a line of soldiers; the <ex>last</ex> page in a book; his last chance</as></def>.

<blockquote>Also day by day, from the first day unto the <b>last day</b>, <b>he read in the book of the law of God</b>. <i>Neh. viii. 18.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Fairest of stars, <b>last</b> in the train of night. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Next before the present; <as>as, I saw him <ex>last</ex> week</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.</def>

<blockquote>Contending for principles of the <b>last</b> importance. <i>R. Hall</i></blockquote>.

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Lowest in rank or degree; <as>as, the <ex>last</ex> prize</as>.</def>

<i>Pope.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; <as>as, he is the <ex>last</ex> person to be accused of theft</as>.</def>

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<cs><col>At last</col>, <cd>at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of Savoy felt that the time had <i>at last</i> arrived." <i>Motley</i>.</cd> -- <col>At the last</col>. <ety>[Prob. fr. AS. <ets>on l\'beste</ets> behind, following behind, fr. <ets>l\'best</ets> race, track, footstep. See <er>Last</er> mold of the foot.]</ety> <cd>At the end; in the conclusion. <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome <i>at the last<i>." <i>Gen. xlix. 19</i>.</cd> -- <col>Last heir</col>, <cd>the person to whom lands escheat for want of an heir. <mark>[Eng.]</mark> <i>Abbott</i>.</cd> -- <col>On one's last legs</col>, <cd>at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense.</cd> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark> -- <col>To breathe one's last</col></mcol>, <cd>to die.</cd> -- <col>To the last</col>, <cd>to the end; till the conclusion.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>And blunder on in business <b>to the last</b>. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>At Last</er>, <er>At Length</er>.</syn> <usage> These phrases both denote that some delayed end or result has been reached. <i>At length</i> implies that a long period was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we <i>at Length</i> arrived safe. <i>At last</i> commonly implies that something has occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us to emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every obstacle, we have <i>at last</i> arrived.</usage><-- "eventually" also suggests a (relatively) long interval, but does not specifically imply any interruptions -->

<h1>Last</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Last</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Last</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; <as>as, I saw him <ex>last</ex> in New York</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In conclusion; finally.</def><-- = <er>lastly</er> -->

<blockquote>Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, <b>last</b>, the thing adored desires. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>At a time next preceding the present time.</def>

<blockquote>How long is't now since <b>last</b> yourself and I Were in a mask ? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Last</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Last</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Lasted</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Lasting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>lasten</ets>, As. <ets>l\'91stan</ets> to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. <ets>l\'best</ets>, <ets>l<?/st</ets>, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. <ets>leisten</ets> to perform, Goth. <ets>laistjan</ets> to follow. See <er>Last</er> mold of the foot.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.</def>

<blockquote> proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life <b>lasted</b>. <i>Testament of Love.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; <as>as, this cloth <ex>lasts</ex> better than that; the fuel will <ex>last</ex> through the winter.</as></def>

<h1>Last</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Last</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>l\'best</ets>trace, track, footstep; akin to D. <ets>leest</ets> a last, G. <ets>leisten</ets>, Sw. <ets>l\'84st</ets>, Dan. <ets>l\'91st</ets>, <ets>Icel</ets>. <ets>leistr</ets> the foot below the ankle, Goth. <ets>laists</ets> track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. <er>Last</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>, <er>Learn</er>, <er>Delirium</er>.]</ety> <def>A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.</def>

<blockquote>The cobbler is not to go beyond his <b>last</b>. <i>L'Estrange.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Darning last</col>, <cd>a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.</cd></cs>