latestadj.n.adv.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian lest , adjective, Old Dutch letist , adjective (Middle Dutch letst , lest (adverb), laetst , adjective and adverb (rare), Dutch laatst , adjective, lest , adverb), Old Saxon latst , last , lętist (Middle Low German lest ), Old High German lazzōst , lezzist (adverb) recently, finally, lezzisto , adjective (Middle High German letzest , letzst , letst , German letzt ), Old Icelandic latastr , adjective < a Germanic superlative form < the base of late adj.¹ and late adv. + the base of -est suffix. In later use probably re-formed directly < late adj.¹ or late adv. + -est suffix. Compare last adj. and also latemost adj.The word is rare in Middle English (the more usual word being last adv., adj., and n.⁴), and very likely showed a short stem vowel (compare the forms lattest, lattast, and discussion at latter adj., adv., and n.). It was probably re-formed on the positive (late adj.¹ and late adv.) in early modern English (compare discussion at later adv., adj., and int.).