核心畫面
You can picture one mark on a timeline — the point when something was supposed to happen — and then the action landing past that mark. That single feeling of 'after the expected point' carries everything: missing an agreed time, sitting near the end of a period, deep in the night, even a person who has passed the end of life. Whether late is describing the thing (adjective) or how it happened (adverb), it keeps pointing to that same spot: later than where it should be.
可以想成時間軸上有一個記號——事情本該發生的那一點——然後動作落在了這個記號的後面。這種「在預期點之後」的感覺貫穿了…更多收起
可以想成時間軸上有一個記號——事情本該發生的那一點——然後動作落在了這個記號的後面。這種「在預期點之後」的感覺貫穿了所有意思：錯過約好的時間、落在一段時期的尾端、夜已深、甚至一個人已走到生命的終點。不管 late 是在形容那樣東西（形容詞）還是在說事情怎麼發生的（副詞），它指的都是同一個位置：比該在的地方更後面。原始詞典資料15 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
lateadj/leɪt/
- 1
Near the end of a period of time.
- The seedlings appeared to be coming along nicely until a late frost killed them.
- The meeting is convened for late morning.
- 2
Specifically, near the end of the day.
- It was getting late and I was tired.
- 3
Associated with the end of a period.
- Late Latin is less fully inflected than Classical Latin.
- 4
Not arriving or occurring until after an expected time.
- The flowers were late in blooming because of the prolonged cold weather.
- Panos was so late that he arrived at the meeting after Antonio, who had the excuse of being in hospital for most of the night.
- 5
Levied as a surcharge on a payment which has not arrived by a specified deadline.
- The power company suspended late fees during the pandemic.
- 6
Not having had an expected menstrual period.
- I'm late, honey. Could you buy a test?
- I am very worried. I am never late.
- 7
Recently deceased, dead: used particularly when speaking of the dead person's actions while alive. (Generally must be preceded by a possessive or an article, commonly “the”; see usage notes. Can itself only precede the person's name, never follow it.)
- Her late husband had left her well provided for.
- Mary was entitled to the crown by her late father’s testament.
- 8
datedExisting or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
- the late bishop of London
- the late administration
另外 2 個記錄的用法
- 9
Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
- the late war
- OLd Iohn of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaſter, Haſt thou according to thy oath and band Brought hither Henry Herford thy bold ſon: Heere to make good yͤ boiſtrous late appeale, Which then our leyſure would not let vs heare, Againſt the Duke of Norfolke, Thomas Mowbray?
- 10
astronomynatural-sciencesOf a star or class of stars, cooler than the sun.
latenoun/leɪt/
- 1
informalA shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
- At about 11 pm one night in Corporation Street my watch were on van patrol and Yellow Watch were on late as usual.
lateadv/leɪt/
- 1
After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
- We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late.
- 2
Formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
- Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.
- The Hendersons will all be there / Late of Pablo Fanque's Fair / What a scene!
- 3
Not long ago; just now, recently.
- He ſhall doe this, or elſe I doe recant / The pardon that I late pronounced heere.
- Tears of the widower, when he sees A late-lost form that sleep reveals, And moves his doubtful arms, and feels Her place is empty, fall like these; […]
這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。