latter

Latter is an English adjective and pronoun used to designate the second of two things that have been mentioned or contrasted. It can also mean situated toward the end or more recent in time, as in phrases like the latter part of the century. In grammatical usage, “the former” and “the latter” pair to avoid repetition when two items are involved; “the latter” most often refers to the second item.

Etymology and history: The word comes from late, with the suffix -er forming a comparative. In Old English, forms such as lættra appeared, and the modern sense of designating the second of two items developed in early modern English. Over time, the term broadened to include senses related to being nearer the end or more recent.

Usage notes: The pronoun can stand alone, as in “The two proposals were approved; the latter will be implemented first.” Ambiguity can arise if the antecedent is unclear, so it is often clearer to repeat the noun or substitute “the second” or “the last mentioned.” Latter can modify nouns, yielding phrases like “the latter half,” “the latter days,” or “the latter rain” (a biblical term for late-season rains).

Other senses and contexts: In religious and historical usage, “Latter” appears in compounds such as “Latter-day” in “Latter-day Saints,” referring to the movement and period associated with the latter days in Mormon thought. The term also appears in secular contexts to indicate later parts of a sequence or time frame (e.g., “the latter chapters” of a book).

See also: Former, former and latter, latter-day Saints.