Adjacent Words

Last definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

L'AST, a. [See Late and Let.]
1. That comes after all the others; the latest; applied to time; as the last hour of the day; the last day of the year.
2. That follows all the others; that is behind all the others in place; hindmost; as, this was the last man that entered the church.
3. Beyond which there is no more.
Here, last of Britons, let your names be read.
4. Next before the present; as the last week; the last year.
5. Utmost.
Their last endeavors bend, T' outshine each other.
It is an object of the last importance.
6. Lowest; meanest.
Antilochus takes the lst prize.
At last, at the last, at the end; in the conclusion.
Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last. Genesis 49.
To the last, to the end; till the conclusion.
And blunder on in business to the last.
In the phrases, "you are the last man I should consult" "this is the last place in which I should expect to find you," the word last implies improbability; this is the most improbable place, and therefore I should resort to it last.
L'AST, adv.
1. The last time; the time before the present. I saw him last at New York.
2. In conclusion; finally.
Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, adores; and last, the thing adored desires.
L'AST, v.i. [See Let.]
1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence. Our government cannot last long unless administered by honest men.
2. To continue unimpaired; not to decay or perish. Select for winter the best apples to last. This color will last.
3. To hold out; to continue unconsumed. The captain knew he had not water on board to last a week.
L'AST, n. [See Load.]
A load; hence, a certain weight or measure. A last of codfish, white herrings, meal, and ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn is ten quarters or eighty bushels; of gun powder, twenty four barrels; of red herrings, twenty cades; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1700 pounds.
L'AST, n.
A mold or form of the human foot, made of wood, on which shoes are formed.
The cobbler is not to go beyond his last.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: immediately past; "last Thursday"; "the last chapter we read"
2: coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining; "the last time I saw Paris"; "the last day of the month"; "had the last word"; "waited until the last minute"; "he raised his voice in a last supreme call"; "the last game of the season"; "down to his last nickel" [ant: first]
3: occurring at or forming an end or termination; "his concluding words came as a surprise"; "the final chapter"; "the last days of the dinosaurs"; "terminal leave" [syn: concluding, final, last, terminal]
4: most unlikely or unsuitable; "the last person we would have suspected"; "the last man they would have chosen for the job"
5: occurring at the time of death; "his last words"; "the last rites"
6: conclusive in a process or progression; "the final answer"; "a last resort"; "the net result" [syn: final, last, net]
7: highest in extent or degree; "to the last measure of human endurance"; "whether they were accomplices in the last degree or a lesser one was...to be determined individually" [syn: last, utmost]
8: not to be altered or undone; "the judge's decision is final"; "the arbiter will have the last say" [syn: final, last]
9: lowest in rank or importance; "last prize"; "in last place" [syn: last, last-place, lowest] n
1: the temporal end; the concluding time; "the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell"; "the market was up at the finish"; "they were playing better at the close of the season" [syn: stopping point, finale, finis, finish, last, conclusion, close]
2: the last or lowest in an ordering or series; "he was the last to leave"; "he finished an inglorious last"
3: a person's dying act; the final thing a person can do; "he breathed his last"
4: the time at which life ends; continuing until dead; "she stayed until his death"; "a struggle to the last" [syn: death, last]
5: a unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds
6: a unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels
7: the concluding parts of an event or occurrence; "the end was exciting"; "I had to miss the last of the movie" [syn: end, last, final stage]
8: holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes [syn: last, shoemaker's last, cobbler's last] v
1: persist for a specified period of time; "The bad weather lasted for three days" [syn: last, endure]
2: continue to live through hardship or adversity; "We went without water and food for 3 days"; "These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America"; "The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents"; "how long can a person last without food and water?" [syn: survive, last, live, live on, go, endure, hold up, hold out] adv
1: most_recently; "I saw him last in London"
2: the item at the end; "last, I'll discuss family values" [syn: last, lastly, in conclusion, finally]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English l?stan to last, follow; akin to Old English l?st footprint Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to continue in time 2. a. to remain fresh or unimpaired ; endure b. to manage to continue (as in a course of action) c. to continue to live transitive verb 1. to continue in existence or action as long as or longer than — often used with out <couldn't last out the training program> 2. to be enough for the needs of <the supplies will last them a week> Synonyms: see continue • laster noun II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English l?ste, from l?st footprint; akin to Old High German leist shoemaker's last, Latin lira furrow — more at learn Date: before 12th century a form (as of metal or plastic) which is shaped like the human foot and over which a shoe is shaped or repaired III. transitive verb Date: circa 1859 to shape with a last • laster noun IV. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English latost, superlative of læt late Date: before 12th century 1. after all others ; at the end <came last and left first> 2. most lately <saw him last in Rome> 3. in conclusion <last, let's consider the social aspect> V. adjective Date: 13th century 1. a. following all the rest <he was the last one out> b. being the only remaining <our last dollar> 2. belonging to the final stage (as of life) <his last hours on earth> 3. a. next before the present ; most recent <last week> <his last book was a failure> b. most up-to-date ; latest <it's the last thing in fashion> 4. a. lowest in rank or standing; also worst b. farthest from a specified quality, attitude, or likelihood <would be the last person to fall for flattery> 5. a. conclusive <there is no last answer to the problem> b. highest in degree ; supreme, ultimate c. distinct, separate — used as an intensive <ate every last piece of food> • lastly adverb Synonyms: last, final, terminal, ultimate mean following all others (as in time, order, or importance). last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped <last page of a book> <last news we had of him>. final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress <final day of school>. terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development <terminal phase of a disease>. ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible <the ultimate collapse of the system>. VI. noun Date: 13th century something that is last

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. adj., adv., & n. --adj. 1 after all others; coming at or belonging to the end. 2 a most recent; next before a specified time (last Christmas; last week). b preceding; previous in a sequence (got on at the last station). 3 only remaining (the last biscuit; our last chance). 4 (prec. by the) least likely or suitable (the last person I'd want; the last thing I'd have expected). 5 the lowest in rank (the last place). --adv. 1 after all others (esp. in comb.: last-mentioned). 2 on the last occasion before the present (when did you last see him?). 3 (esp. in enumerating) lastly. --n. 1 a person or thing that is last, last-mentioned, most recent, etc. 2 (prec. by the) the last mention or sight etc. (shall never hear the last of it). 3 the last performance of certain acts (breathed his last). 4 (prec. by the) a the end or last moment. b death. Phrases and idioms: at last (or long last) in the end; after much delay. last agony the pangs of death. last ditch a place of final desperate defence (often (with hyphen) attrib.). Last Judgement see JUDGEMENT. last minute (or moment) the time just before an important event (often (with hyphen) attrib.). last name surname. last post see POST(3). last rites sacred rites for a person about to die. the last straw a slight addition to a burden or difficulty that makes it finally unbearable. the Last Supper that of Christ and his disciples on the eve of the Crucifixion, as recorded in the New Testament. last thing adv. very late, esp. as a final act before going to bed. the last word 1 a final or definitive statement (always has the last word; is the last word on this subject). 2 (often foll. by in) the latest fashion. on one's last legs see LEG. pay one's last respects see RESPECT. to (or till) the last till the end; esp. till death. Etymology: OE latost superl.: see LATE 2. v.intr. 1 remain unexhausted or adequate or alive for a specified or considerable time; suffice (enough food to last us a week; the battery lasts and lasts). 2 continue for a specified time (the journey lasts an hour). Phrases and idioms: last out remain adequate or in existence for the whole of a period previously stated or implied. Etymology: OE læstan f. Gmc 3. n. a shoemaker's model for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot. Phrases and idioms: stick to one's last not meddle with what one does not understand. Etymology: OE læste last, læst boot, last footprint f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Lasting.] [OE. lasten, As. l[ae]stan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, fr. l[=a]st, l?st, trace, footstep, course; akin to G. leisten to perform, Goth. laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.] 1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence. [I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted. --Testament of Love. 2. To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, 3d pers. sing. pres. of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, a. [OE. last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to OS. lezt, lazt, last, D. laatst, G. letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest.] 1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. --Neh. viii. 18. Fairest of stars, last in the train of night. --Milton. 2. Next before the present; as, I saw him last week. 3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost. Contending for principles of the last importance. --R. Hall. 4. Lowest in rank or degree; as, the last prize. --Pope. 5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, adv. [See Last, a.] 1. At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York. 2. In conclusion; finally.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, n. [AS. l[=a]sttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. l["a]st, Dan. l[ae]st, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.] A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. --L'Estrange. Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, v. t. To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Last Last, n. [As. hl[ae]st, fr. hladan to lade; akin to OHG. hlast, G., D., Dan., & Sw. last: cf. F. laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.] 1. A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs. 2. The burden of a ship; a cargo.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(lasts, lasting, lasted) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You use last in expressions such as last Friday, last night, and last year to refer, for example, to the most recent Friday, night, or year. I got married last July... He never made it home at all last night... It is not surprising they did so badly in last year's elections. DET 2. The last event, person, thing, or period of time is the most recent one. Much has changed since my last visit... At the last count inflation was 10.9 per cent... I split up with my last boyfriend three years ago... The last few weeks have been hectic. ADJ: det ADJ • Last is also a pronoun. The next tide, it was announced, would be even higher than the last. PRON 3. If something last happened on a particular occasion, that is the most recent occasion on which it happened. When were you there last?... The house is a little more dilapidated than when I last saw it... Hunting on the trust's 625,000 acres was last debated two years ago. ADV: ADV with v 4. The last thing, person, event, or period of time is the one that happens or comes after all the others of the same kind. This is his last chance as prime minister. ...the last three pages of the chapter... She said it was the very last house on the road... They didn't come last in their league. ? first ORD • Last is also a pronoun. It wasn't the first time that this particular difference had divided them and it wouldn't be the last... The trickiest bits are the last on the list. PRON 5. If you do something last, you do it after everyone else does, or after you do everything else. I testified last... I was always picked last for the football team at school... The foreground, nearest the viewer, is painted last. ADV: ADV after v 6. If you are the last to do or know something, everyone else does or knows it before you. She was the last to go to bed... Riccardo and I are always the last to know what's going on. PRON: PRON to-inf 7. Last is used to refer to the only thing, person, or part of something that remains. Jed nodded, finishing off the last piece of pizza. ...the freeing of the last hostage. ADJ: det ADJ • Last is also a noun. He finished off the last of the wine... The last of the ten inmates gave themselves up after twenty eight hours on the roof of the prison. N-SING: the N of n 8. You use last before numbers to refer to a position that someone has reached in a competition after other competitors have been knocked out. Sampras reached the last four at Wimbledon. ...the only woman among the authors making it through to the last six. ADJ: det ADJ 9. You can use last to indicate that something is extremely undesirable or unlikely. The last thing I wanted to do was teach... He would be the last person who would do such a thing. ADJ: det ADJ [emphasis] • Last is also a pronoun. I would be the last to say that science has explained everything. PRON: PRON to-inf 10. The last you see of someone or the last you hear of them is the final time that you see them or talk to them. She disappeared shouting, 'To the river, to the river!' And that was the last we saw of her... I had a feeling it would be the last I heard of him. ? first PRON: the PRON that 11. If an event, situation, or problem lasts for a particular length of time, it continues to exist or happen for that length of time. The marriage had lasted for less than two years... The games lasted only half the normal time... Enjoy it because it won't last. VERB: V for n, V n, V, also V adv 12. If something lasts for a particular length of time, it continues to be able to be used for that time, for example because there is some of it left or because it is in good enough condition. You only need a very small blob of glue, so one tube lasts for ages... The repaired sail lasted less than 24 hours... The implication is that this battery lasts twice as long as other batteries... VERB: V for n, V n, V adv, also V 13. see also lasting 14. If you say that something has happened at last or at long last you mean it has happened after you have been hoping for it for a long time. I'm so glad that we've found you at last!... Here, at long last, was the moment he had waited for... At last the train arrived in the station... = finally PHRASE: PHR with cl 15. You use expressions such as the night before last, the election before last and the leader before last to refer to the period of time, event, or person that came immediately before the most recent one in a series. It was the dog he'd heard the night before last... In the budget before last a tax penalty on the mobile phone was introduced. PHRASE 16. You can use phrases such as the last but one, the last but two, or the last but three, to refer to the thing or person that is, for example, one, two, or three before the final person or thing in a group or series. It's the last but one day in the athletics programme... The British team finished last but one. PHRASE: PHR n, PHR after v 17. You can use expressions such as the last I heard and the last she heard to introduce a piece of information that is the most recent that you have on a particular subject. The last I heard, Joe and Irene were still happily married. PHRASE: PHR with cl 18. If you leave something or someone until last, you delay using, choosing, or dealing with them until you have used, chosen, or dealt with all the others. I have left my best wine until last... I picked first all the people who usually were left till last. PHRASE: V inflects 19. to have the last laugh: see laugh last-minute: see minute the last straw: see straw last thing: see thing

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Latest. 2. Hindmost. 3. Final, ultimate. 4. Highest, greatest, utmost, extreme. II. ad. 1. The last time. 2. After all the rest. 3. Finally, in conclusion. III. v. n. 1. Endure, remain, continue. 2. Hold out, be unexhausted, be unconsumed.

Moby Thesaurus

Z, abide, advance, aforegoing, after, aftermost, apodosis, at last, at length, at long last, at the end, at the last, be spared, behind, bide, bottommost, boundary, carry on, carry through, cast, catastrophe, caudal, ceasing, cessation, cheat death, closing, coda, collateral, coming, completing, completive, completory, concluding, conclusion, conclusive, conclusively, consummation, consummative, contingent, continue, continue to be, continue to exist, crack of doom, crowning, culminating, culmination, curtain, curtains, death, decease, decisive, defeat time, definitive, defy time, denouement, departing, destination, destiny, determinative, die, doom, dwell, effect, elapse, end, end point, ending, endmost, endure, envoi, epilogue, eschatology, eventual, eventually, exist, expiration, expire, extend, extreme, farewell, farthest, farthest out, fate, final, final solution, final twitch, final words, finale, finality, finalizing, finally, finis, finish, finishing, flit, flow, flow on, fly, foregoing, form, fulfilling, furthest, glide, go by, go on, goal, hang on, hindmost, hold, hold on, hold out, in conclusion, in fine, in the rear, indirect, intaglio, izzard, keep, keep alive, keep at, keep at it, keep driving, keep going, keep on, keep trying, keep up, lag, lapse, last breath, last gasp, last long, last out, last things, last trumpet, last words, lastly, latest, latter, latter end, leaving, limiting, live, live on, live through, maintain, matrix, mint, model, mold, most recent, mould, negative, newest, not accept compromise, omega, once for all, outermost, outward-bound, parting, pass, pass by, pattern, payoff, perdure, perennate, period, peroration, persevere, persist, polar, preceding, press on, prevail, proceed, punch, quietus, rearmost, remain, remotest, resolution, resting place, roll on, run, run its course, run on, run out, seal, secondary, shoe last, slide, slip, stamp, stand, stand up, stay, stay on, stoppage, stopping place, subsist, support life, survive, sustain, swan song, tail, tarry, template, term, terminal, terminating, termination, terminative, terminus, tide over, ultimate, ultimately, utmost, uttermost, valedictory, wear, wear well, windup