Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LAST, a. [contracted from latest; Sax. last, from latost; G. letzt; D. laatst, from laat, late. Qu. is the Gr. λοισθος from the same root. 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. – Pope.
4. Next before the present; as, the last week; the last year.
5. Utmost. Their last endeavors bend, / T' outshine each other. – Dryden. It is an object of the last importance. – Ellicott.
6. Lowest; meanest. Antilochus / Takes the last prize. – Pope. At last, at the last, at the end; in the conclusion. Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shalt overcome at the last. Gen. xlix. To the last, to the end; till the conclusion. And blunder on in business to the last. – Pope. 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.