| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024lat•ter /ˈlætɚ/USA pronunciation adj. - being the second mentioned of two (distinguished from former ):Of the two I prefer the latter version.
- more advanced in time;
later:in these latter days of human progress. - near or somewhat near to the end:the latter part of the century.
n. [uncountable* the + ~] - the second thing mentioned of two:Of your two examples, I prefer the latter.
lat•ter•ly, adv. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024lat•ter (lat′ər),USA pronunciation adj. - being the second mentioned of two (distinguished from former):I prefer the latter offer to the former one.
- more advanced in time;
later:in these latter days of human progress. - near or comparatively near to the end:the latter part of the century.
- [Obs.]last;
final.
- Middle English latt(e)re, Old English lætra, comparative of læt late bef. 1000
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: latter /ˈlætə/ adj (prenominal)- denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former
- (as noun; functioning as sing or plural): the latter is not important
- near or nearer the end: the latter part of a film
- more advanced in time or sequence; later
USAGE
The latter should only be used to refer to the second of two items: many people choose to go by hovercraft rather than use the ferry, but I prefer the latter. The last of three or more items can be referred to as the last-named |