Last

Last (lȧst) , third person singular present

of Last, to endure, contracted from lasteth. [Obsolete] — Chaucer

Last (lȧst) , adjective

[Old English last, latst, contr. of latest, superl. of late; akin to Old Saxon lezt, lazt, last, Dutch laatst, German letzt. See Late, and compare Latest.]

Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, place, or order of succession; following all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the last year of a century; the last man in a line of soldiers; the last page in a book; his last chance.

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. — Neh. viii. 18

Fairest of stars, last in the train of night. — Milton

Next before the present; as, I saw him last week.

Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

Contending for principles of the last importance. — R. Hall

Lowest in rank or degree; as, the a last place finish. — Pope

Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft.

And blunder on in business to the last. — Pope

Collocations (6)

At last , at the end of a certain period; after delay. The duke of Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived. — Motley

At the last , At the end; in the conclusion. [Obsolete] Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last. — Gen. xlix. 19

Last heir , the person to whom lands escheat for lack of an heir. [English] — Abbott

On one's last legs , at, or near, the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. [Colloquial]

To breathe one's last , to die.

To the last , to the end; till the conclusion.

Last (lȧst) , adverb

[See Last, a.]

At a time or on an occasion which is the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last time; as, I saw him last in New York.

In conclusion; finally; lastly.

Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires. — Dryden

At a time next preceding the present time.

How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask? — Shakespeare

Last , intransitive verb

[Old English lasten, As. lastan to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, from lāst, last, trace, footstep, course; akin to German leisten to perform, Gothic laistjan to follow. See Last mold of the foot.]

To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.

[I] proffered me to be slave in all that she me would ordain while my life lasted. — Testament of Love

To endure use, or continue in existence, without impairment or exhaustion; as, this cloth lasts better than that; the fuel will last through the winter.

Last , noun

[Anglo-Saxon lāst trace, track, footstep; akin to Dutch leest a last, German leisten, Swedish last, Danish last, Icelandic leistr the foot below the ankle, Gothic laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Compare Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.]

A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed.

The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. — L'Estrange

Collocations (1)

Darning last , a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.

Last , transitive verb

To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; to place smoothly on a last; as, to last a boot.

Last , noun

[As. hlast, from hladan to lade; akin to Old High German hlast, German, Dutch, Danish, & Swedish last: compare French laste, last, a last, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.]

A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

The burden of a ship; a cargo.