Emily Dickinson Lexicon

late (-st, -ly, -r), adv. [OE late, slowly, lazily.] (webplay: after, character, close, coming, contracted, day, degrees, end, existing, far, last, lie, life, long, ministry, near, night, place, round, season, see, slow, spring, summer, superlative, time).

1. After dark; at night.
2. Recently; happening not long ago.
3. From times past.
4. Delayed; coming after the usual time; appearing beyond the appointed season.
5. Far advanced; near to the end; close in time to completion.