English
later
Later comes from Middle English later, and goes back to Old English lator.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150lator
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500later
- Englishearliest quotation 1945same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150lator
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500later
- Englishearliest quotation 1945same form
Earliest quotation: 1945, Elizabeth Gidley Withycombe, Introduction: “The eldest son was usually given the name of…”
Formed from late + -er
Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- ‘to be tired’
…
Proto-Germanic *lataz ‘slow’
Proto-West Germanic *lat ‘slow’
Old English læt ‘slow’
Middle English late ‘slow’
English late
Every English word from Old English lator
Today it means
adv Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English lator / later