last

adjective

1. 1

   Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.

   Will try to fix it by myself for now: as a last resort, we can always take it to a grease monkey.

   Eyes Wide Shut was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick.

   Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.

2. 2

   Most recent, latest, last so far.

   The last time I saw him, he was married.

   I have received your note dated the 17th last, and am responding to say that[…]

   She told him the last news about little Georgy, and how he was gone to spend that very day with his sisters in the country.

   In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year.

3. 3

   Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.

   He is the last person to be accused of theft.

   The last person I want to meet is Helen.

   More rain is the last thing we need right now.

4. 4

   Being the only one remaining of its class.

   Japan is the last empire.

5. 5

   Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.

   Contending for principles of the last importance.

6. 6

   Lowest in rank or degree.

   Three contestants will win awards, but the last prize is just a book voucher.

   In one word then, unless I could unfold the mystery, I will not wish you to consider me but as the last and lowest of mankind.

   The whole community from the patrician master to the last beggar knew that in the five months when the generous bosom of the steppe throbbed with creative life, they must toil for the subsistence of all […]

   Lesser, but still important executives had offices without corner windows. The rank below this had offices without windows at all. […] The last rank had desks out in an open room.

determiner

1. 1

   The (one) immediately before the present.

   We went there last year.

   I was last to go; you're next.

2. 2

   Closest in the past, or closest but one if the closest was very recent; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) ago, or the most recent instance before seven days (one week) ago.

   It's Wednesday, and the party was last Tuesday; that is, not yesterday, but eight days ago.

   When you say last Monday, do you mean the Monday just gone, or the one before that?

   Where my brother had stood last night, I now stood.

adverb

1. 1

   Most recently.

   When we last met, he was based in Toronto.

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

2. 2

   after everything else; finally

   As I arrived last of all, I'll go last to add the butter last.

   last but not least

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

verb

1. 1

   To endure, continue over time.

   Summer seems to last longer each year.

   They seem happy now, but that won't last long.

   They say this blizzard might last (for) days.

   And love will last as pure and whole ⁠As when he loved me here in Time, ⁠And at the spiritual prime Rewaken with the dawning soul.

2. 2

   To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.

   I don't know how much longer we can last without reinforcements.

3. 3

   slangTo purposefully refrain from orgasm

4. 4

   obsoleteTo perform, carry out.

noun

1. 1

   A tool in the form of a foot on which an item of footwear (such as a boot or shoe) is placed for shaping while it is being manufactured or repaired.

   I muſt to the learned to learne of them, that's as much to ſay, as the Taylor muſt meddle vvith his Laſte, the Shoomaker vvith his needle, the Painter vvith his nets, and the Fiſher vvith his Penſill, I muſt to the learned.

   Here's gallants of all ſizes, of all laſts, / Here you may fit your foote, make choyſe of thoſe / VVhome your affection may reioyce in.

   Shoomaker, you goe alittle beyond your laſt.

   And leſſe matters ſet on the Friers laſts, make ſeely Papiſts beleeue novv, that Proteſtants haue no Churches nor Religion, nor ſcarſely the ſhape of men.

verb

1. 1

   To shape (an item of footwear such as a boot or shoe) during its manufacture or repair while it is placed on a last (noun etymology 3, noun sense 1).

   to last a boot

   I now begin to last the boot, shoe, or clog with a wax thread, in the same way as boot or shoemakers brace the toe-part of a boot or shoe down to the inner sole, but no nails or tacks must be used, […]

   Sport cycling shoes are lasted on semi-curved or semi-straight lasts much like walking and hiking shoes.

noun

1. 1

   obsoleteA burden; load; a cargo; freight.

2. 2

   obsoleteA measure of weight or quantity, varying in designation depending on the goods concerned.

   Now we so quietly followed our businesse, that in three moneths wee made three or foure Last of Tarre, Pitch, and Sope ashes [...].

   The last of wool is twelve sacks.

3. 3

   obsoleteAn old English (and Dutch) measure of the carrying capacity of a ship, equal to two tons.

   1942 (1601), T D Mutch, The First Discovery of Australia, page 14, The tonnage of the Duyfken of Harmensz's fleet is given as 25 and 30 lasten.

4. 4

   A load of some commodity with reference to its weight and commercial value.

Forms

plural

lasts, lasten

past tense

lasted

past participle

lasted

present participle

lasting

third person singular

lasts