latter

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“
For the latter was as unscrupulous as he was handsome, as Napoleon was to find to his cost, though in recognition of his services as a dashing leader of cavalry he had rewarded him with the hand of his sister Caroline and the crown of Naples.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. adjective Being the second of two persons or things mentioned: Between captain and major, the latter is the higher rank. See Usage Note at former2.
  2. adjective Near or nearer to the end: the latter part of the book.
  3. adjective Further advanced in time or sequence; later: a style that has been revived in latter times.

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Examples (50)

  • To rescue him, a corps under Basilus and Sallustius came from Italy and the squadron of Hortensius from the Tyrrhene Sea; but neither the former nor the latter were able to effect anything in presence of the far superior fleet of the enemy. —  The History of Rome (Volumes 1-5)
  • Major Price (Essay) may be right in making Ababil the plural of Abilah, a vesicle; but it appears to me that the former is an Arabic and the latter a Persian word, which have no connection whatever. —  Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah ; Meccah — Volume 1
  • And just as the latter was about to say that he could not take so small a boy, the lad spoke out Don't be afraid, Captain," said he, "I can drum This was spoken with so much confidence that the captain smiled and said to the sergeant Well, well, bring the drum, and order our fifer to come here In a few moments a drum was produced and the fifer, a round-shouldered, good-natured fellow, who stood six feet tall, made his appearance. —  Good Stories for Holidays
  • Carlos, for the latter was a dwarf (_chicotito_) and a tyrant, and the others were plunderers and robbers. —  Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society
  • And just as the latter was about to say that he could not take so small a boy, the lad spoke out: -- —  Good Stories for Holidays
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Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

former ·  only ·  individual ·  in ·  government ·  whole ·  king
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, later, from Old English lætra; see lē- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. A variant of later (= OFries. letora, letera, litlera, worse, later, = MHG, lazzer, later, = Icelandic latari, comp. of latr, lazy), comparative of late, now partly differentiated in use: see late.
 

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/ˈlætər/
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