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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Late, Lait, adv. Also: laite, laitt, layt(e, leit(t, leat, let. [ME. and late OE. late: cf. Lat adv.]

1. After the normal, necessary or most suitable time; at an advanced period; behind time.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 4999.
Come I are, come I late, I fand Annot at the yhate a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 879.
Airly sporne, late speid 1558-66 Knox I. 127.
Bettir late thrive than never thrive a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 6.
Come it aire, come it late, in May comes the cowquake(b) (c 1580) Alex. ii. 7003.
Thow hes that dremit all to lait 1513 Doug. x. ii. 94.
Al to layt, with thyne iniust complantis Aganyst ws thou rysys 1549 Compl. 115/15.
This vryting is cum ouir lait and behynd the hand 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 59.
The Ambassadour of Savoy, being biddin to lait to the Baptisme, come quhen all was endit 1639 Covenant in Fugitive Poetry II. xv. 2.
Tis better lait then never to begin To thryve in Christ 1673 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 21.
The boats makis difficulte to come to Cowkennie so lait in the ȝeircompar. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 14.
And the laitter sic thingis appeir ... it is the mair deidlie 1657 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. II. 49.
That the coopes for the Communion may be presented in readiness against the approaching tym of the Sacra ment which is to be laitter(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 92/4.
Ȝe are come a litill to leit

b. Late and (or, nor) are, are and (or, nor) late: see Are adv. 2 b.

2. At an advanced hour, late in the day.(a) c1460 Dietary 8.
Oys neuir late for to sowp a1500 Colk. Sow i. 308.
Late, laite on evinnyngis 1661 Black Sc. Witches 43.
I began to be yrrie, being late in the eavening 1663 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 499.
For ane hakney coatche frome Leith to Edinburgh being late and dark(b) c1420 Wynt. vii. 3998.
This Schyre Willame … That nycht wes layte at the supare Wyth the Qwene c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvii. 8.
Sum lait at evin bringis in the moreis 1562 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 48.
[He met Methven at] nyne houris at evin … [and] sperit at him quhat deid he sa lait vp a1568 Bann. MS. 256 b/8.
My curege hes tane to swaige rycht lait efter none 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 93.
Lewand thair wark at ewin, lait in the glomingcompar. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 219.
At nyne of the clock, and nather to cum soner nor laitter(c) 1600-1610 Melvill 460.
And sa for that night, leat, we war dimissit 1624 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 144.
[He,] cuming to his awin hous leat ane evin [etc.] 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 319.
This Seterday leat(d) 1600-1610 Melvill 403.
Let at night, and betymes in the morning

b. (vj, x, etc. houris = o'clock) lait, = after noon, p.m. 1516 Treas. Acc. V. 86.
Deliverit to Langlandis ane letter of our souerane lord at vj houris lait Ib.
Tercio Octobris, at x houris lait, deliverit to James Bissat j letter of our souerane lordis

3. Recently, lately, of late. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 609.
Cresseid … Under this stane, lait lipper, lyis deid c1515 Asl. MS. l. 164/1.
Thar is commoun purgatorie as me[n] has previt bot lait syne 1513 Doug. i. vii. 5.
The gretnes of Cartage, Quhilk lait tofor had beyn ane smal cotage a1568 Bann. MS. p. 59.
[I had] Bot lait begun to lerne and till translait My copeis awld 1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 50.
Ȝour godly caus hes now tane gude succes In Ingland lait 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 142.
Sic ane leat prentit gentleman a1578 Pitsc. I. 102/35.
[He] put first doun tua … that wer brether bairnies witht him and now lait … his awin brother a1605 Montg. Son. xxi. 1.
My lords, late lads, nou leidars of our lauis 1622-6 Bisset I. 73.
His … sacreit maiestie, that lait deceissed 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 383.
[John Carsane] laite travellar in England