Where does “latter” come from?

Latter comes from Old English lætra, comparative of læt, from Proto-Germanic lataz, from Proto-Indo-European lē(y)d-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d-.

latter (English): Relating to or being the second of two items;...

Definitions

  1. Relating to or being the second of two items;...

Ancestry of “latter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlætra—
2Old Englishlætslow; slack, lax, negligent; late
3Proto-Germaniclētazfreeman; bondsman; serf
4Proto-Germaniclētanąto let, to allow; to leave alone
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₁d-to be tired

Words derived from “latter”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- →