Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Late \Late\, adv. [AS. late. See {Late}, a.]
   1. After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed;
      after delay; as, he arrived late; -- opposed to {early}.

   2. Not long ago; lately.

   3. Far in the night, day, week, or other particular period;
      as, to lie abed late; to sit up late at night.

   {Of late}, in time not long past, or near the present;
      lately; as, the practice is of late uncommon.

   {Too late}, after the proper or available time; when the time
      or opportunity is past.

Late \Late\, a. [Compar. {Later}, or {latter}; superl.
   {Latest}.] [OE. lat slow, slack, AS. l[ae]t; akin to OS. lat,
   D. laat late, G. lass weary, lazy, slack, Icel. latr, Sw.
   lat, Dan. lad, Goth. lats, and to E. let, v. See {Let} to
   permit, and cf. {Alas}, {Lassitude}.]
   1. Coming after the time when due, or after the usual or
      proper time; not early; slow; tardy; long delayed; as, a
      late spring.

   2. Far advanced toward the end or close; as, a late hour of
      the day; a late period of life.

   3. Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not
      now; lately deceased, departed, or gone out of office; as,
      the late bishop of London; the late administration.

   4. Not long past; happening not long ago; recent; as, the
      late rains; we have received late intelligence.

   5. Continuing or doing until an advanced hour of the night;
      as, late revels; a late watcher.

Source : WordNet®

late
     adj 1: being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a
            usual or expected time; "late evening"; "late 18th
            century"; "a late movie"; "took a late flight"; "had a
            late breakfast" [ant: {early}, {middle}]
     2: after the expected or usual time; delayed; "a belated
        birthday card"; "I'm late for the plane"; "the train is
        late"; "tardy children are sent to the principal"; "always
        tardy in making dental appointments" [syn: {belated}, {tardy}]
     3: of the immediate past or just previous to the present time;
        "a late development"; "their late quarrel"; "his recent
        trip to Africa"; "in recent months"; "a recent issue of
        the journal" [syn: {late(a)}, {recent}]
     4: having died recently; "her late husband" [syn: {late(a)}]
     5: of a later stage in the development of a language or
        literature; used especially of dead languages; "Late
        Greek" [ant: {early}, {middle}]
     6: at or toward an end or late period or stage of development;
        "the late phase of feudalism"; "a later symptom of the
        disease"; "later medical science could have saved the
        child" [syn: {later(a)}] [ant: {early}]
     7: (used especially of persons) of the immediate past; "the
        former president"; "our late President is still very
        active"; "the previous occupant of the White House" [syn:
        {former(a)}, {late(a)}, {previous(a)}]

late
     adv 1: later than usual or than expected; "the train arrived late";
            "we awoke late"; "the children came late to school";
            "notice came so tardily that we almost missed the
            deadline"; "I belatedly wished her a happy birthday"
            [syn: {belatedly}, {tardily}] [ant: {early}]
     2: to an advanced time; "deep into the night"; "talked late
        into the evening" [syn: {deep}]
     3: at an advanced age or stage; "she married late"; "undertook
        the project late in her career"
     4: in the recent past; "he was in Paris recently"; "lately the
        rules have been enforced"; "as late as yesterday she was
        fine"; "feeling better of late"; "the spelling was first
        affected, but latterly the meaning also" [syn: {recently},
         {lately}, {of late}, {latterly}]