Part 6391

<hw>Latch"ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also <altname>latch</altname> and <altname>lasket</altname>.</def> <mark>[Usually in pl.]</mark>

<h1>Latchkey</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Latch"key`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch.</def>

<h1>Latchstring</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Latch"string`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door.</def>

<cs><col>To find the latchstring out</col>, <cd>to meet with hospitality; to be welcome. (Intrusion is prevented by drawing in the latchstring.) <mark>[Colloq. U.S.]</mark></cd></cs>

<h1>Late</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Late</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Later</er> <tt>(?)</tt>, or <er>latter</er> <tt>(<?/)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Latest</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>lat</ets> slow, slack, As.<ets>l\'91t</ets>; akin to Os. <ets>lat</ets>, D. <ets>laat</ets> late, G. <ets>lass</ets> weary, lazy, slack, Icel. <ets>latr</ets>, Sw. <ets>lat</ets>, Dan. <ets>lad</ets>, Goth. <ets>lats</ets>, and to E. <ets>let</ets>, <tt>v.</tt> See <er>Let</er> to permit, and cf. <er>Alas</er>, <er>Lassitude</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; <as>as, a <ex>late</ex> spring</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Far advanced toward the end or close; <as>as, a <ex>late</ex> hour of the day; a <ex>late</ex> period of life.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; <as>as, the <ex>late</ex> bishop of London; the <ex>late</ex> administration.</as></def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; <as>as, the <ex>late</ex> rains; we have received <ex>late</ex> intelligence.</as></def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night; <as>as, <ex>late</ex> revels; a <ex>late</ex> watcher.</as></def>

<h1>Late</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Late</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>late</ets>. See <er>Late</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; <as>as, he arrived <ex>late</ex></as>; -- opposed to <i>early</i>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Not long ago; lately.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period; <as>as, to lie abed <ex>late</ex>; to sit up <ex>late</ex> at night.</as></def>

<cs><col>Of late</col>, <cd>in time not long past, or near the present; lately; as, the practice is <i>of late<i> uncommon.</cd> -- <col>Too late</col>, <cd>after the proper or available time; when the time or opportunity is past.</cd></cs>

<h1>Lated</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Lat"ed</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Belated; too late.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>La-teen</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>La-teen"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa. See below.</def>

<cs><col>Lateen sail</col>. <ety>[F. voile <ets>latine<ets> a sail in the shape of a right-angled triangle; cf. It. & Sp. vela <ets>latina<ets>; properly <ets>Latin<ets> sail. See <er>Latin</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <cd>A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung at about one fourth of its length from the lower end, to a low mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five degrees; -- used in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc., especially in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some lateen sails have also a boom on the lower side.</cd></cs>

<h1>Lately</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>Late"ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Not long ago; recently; <as>as, he has <ex>lately</ex> arrived from Italy</as>.</def>

<h1>Latence</h1> <Xpage=832>

<hw>La"tence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Latency.</def>

<i>Coleridge.</i>