† Lateward

a. and adv. Obs. Also 5–6 latward. [f. LATE a.¹ + -WARD.] A. adj.

  1.  Late, slow, backward: said mostly of fruit and crops ripening, and seasons of the year.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Cordum fœnum, latewarde haye. Cordi agni, latewarde lambes.

1546.  Supplic. Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.), 71. They mighte not gather their grapes nor frutes twyse, but must leue the latward fruit.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, viii. 93. If Greece were to lateward therein [the studie of wisedome], where shall the antiquitie thereof be found among the Gentiles?

1589.  Fleming, Virg. Georg., I. 9. There Vesper or th’ euening doth kindle lateward lights.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 501. Trees which be late-ward and keep their fruit long ere they ripen.

1611.  Cotgr., Arrieresaison,… a late harvest, a lateward yeare.

a. 1659.  Osborn, Ess., iii. Wks. (1673), 568. The Garden having not yet produced any Fruit so lateward.

1719.  London & Wise, Compl. Gard., 273. We sow our last Cucumbers about the tenth or twelfth of this Month, to have some lateward ones.

1745.  trans. Columella’s Husb., XI. ii. Now it is time to have finished the digging and dressing of your lateward rosebeds.

  2.  Pertaining to a late period. rare.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. ix. (1877), I. 190. Such also was the lateward estimation of them [the old laws] that [etc.].

  B.  adv.

  1.  Of late, recently.

1471.  Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., No. 670, III. 6. As myche plesyer and hertys ease as I have latward causyd you to have trowbyll and thowght.

1649.  Bp. Hall, Confirm. (1651), 28. Deducing it self through all the ages of the Church, (though lateward not without some taint of superstitious interspersions).

  2.  Late, after the due time or season.

1572.  Mascall, Plant. & Graff., v. 24. Whether the tree be forwarde or not, or to be graffed soone or latewarde.

1573.  Tusser, Husb., xlvi. (1878), 101. Who soweth too lateward, hath seldome good seed.

1609.  Bible (Douay), Jer. ii. 31. Am I become a wildernes to Israel, or a lateward springing land?

1620.  Bp. Hall, Hon. Mar. Clergy, III. § 13. The cited clergy and laity doe now thus late-ward discusse de iure.

1659.  Torriano, Séro, late, or lateward.

  3.  ? Towards the last.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. 622. The most losse turned euer latewarde vpon y^e Englysh partie.

  Also † Latewards adv., lately, recently.

1483.  Act 1 Rich. III., c. 13. The Butts of Malmseys latewards brought into this … Realm.