The word "later" is spelled with three letters - l, a, and t - and pronounced as /ˈleɪ.tər/. The first sound is a "long a" sound, represented by the IPA symbol /leɪ/. The second sound is a "schwa" sound, represented by the symbol /ə/. The final sound is a "soft t" sound, represented by the symbol /t/. This simple three-letter word is used to indicate a time or event that happens after the present moment or another specified time.
Later is an adverb that refers to a point in time that comes after the current moment. It indicates a subsequent moment or event that is not immediate but will occur at some point in the future, relatively close in time. It suggests a delay or a postponement from the present moment.
In a temporal context, later can be used to describe a time or event following the present time or a previously mentioned time. For instance, if someone says, "I will come over later," it means that they will come to the specified location or engage in a particular activity at some point in the future, but not right away.
Later also indicates a contrast with an earlier mentioned time or event. If someone says, "I woke up early in the morning, and later I had breakfast," it implies that the person woke up earlier, and after some time passed, they had their breakfast.
Furthermore, later can be used to convey a sense of delay or rescheduling. For example, if someone says, "I will do my homework later," it means that they will complete their homework at a time subsequent to the present, implying a postponement or deferral.
In summary, later is an adverb that signifies a moment or event occurring after the current time, representing either a temporal progression, contrast with an earlier time, or a delay in action.
Comparative degree of late; longer delayed; subsequent.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "later" originated from the Middle English word "later", which was derived from the Old English word "læt", meaning "sluggish" or "slow". It shares a common Germanic root with the Old High German word "lâzan", which means "lazy". Over time, the meaning of "later" shifted to refer to something that occurs after a certain point in time.