last
last
Pronunciation
The word "last" has one syllable and is pronounced as follows:
IPA: /lɑːst/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in the word:
l: alveolar lateral approximant
ɑː: open back unrounded vowel (long vowel)
s: voiceless alveolar sibilant
t: voiceless alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
The word "last" doesn't have plural or singular forms. It can function as an adjective, adverb, verb, or noun, and its form remains the same regardless of its grammatical role in a sentence.
Here are some examples of how "last" can be used in different parts of speech:
Adjective: "This is the last day of the month."
Adverb: "I saw him last week."
Verb: "The battery lasted for two hours."
Noun: "He had the last word."
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Last (Adjective)
Definition: Coming after all others in a series or sequence.
Synonyms: final, latest, concluding, ultimate
Antonyms: first, initial, earliest
Last (Adverb)
Definition: At a recent time or on a recent occasion.
Synonyms: recently, lately, previously
Antonyms: first, initially, formerly
Last (Verb)
Definition: To continue existing for a specified period.
Synonyms: endure, persist, continue
Antonyms: cease, stop, end
Last (Noun)
Definition: The final part of something.
Synonyms: end, conclusion, finale
Antonyms: beginning, start, commencement
Examples of Use
Books:
"The last chapter of the book was a cliffhanger."
"Last night, I read a short story that really made me think."
Newspapers:
"The last poll shows a close race between the two candidates." (The New York Times)
"The last train leaves at midnight." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"This is the last article in our series on climate change." (The Verge)
"The last tweet from the company was posted yesterday." (Twitter)
Entertainment:
"The last scene of the movie was heartbreaking." (Movie review)
"The last episode of the TV show was a huge disappointment." (Reddit discussion)
General Public Discourse:
"I last saw her on Friday." (Everyday conversation)
"The last time I checked, it was raining." (Weather report)
Note: These are just a few examples, and the word "last" is used in countless other ways in everyday language.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Last
"It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years." — Abraham Lincoln (implying the last years of your life are about living fully)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." — Theodore Roosevelt (often considered a motto for the last stretch of any journey)
"The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason." — T.S. Eliot
"The last thing you want to do is finish playing or doing anything and wish you would have worked harder." — Derek Jeter
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." — Martin Luther King Jr. (implying last memories or reflections)
"The last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances." — Viktor Frankl
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." — 1 Corinthians 15:26
"Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again." — Anonymous (often said in last partings)
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." — Ralph Waldo Emerson (encouragement for one’s last acts of originality)
"The last thing to grow on a fruit tree is the fruit." — Tom Waits (reflecting that the best comes last)
Etymology
The word "last" comes from the Old English word "lætest," which meant "latest." This word, in turn, has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "hlastuz," meaning "burden" or "load."
So, while the word "last" now means "final" or "most recent," it originally had a connection to the idea of something coming after or following something else, like a burden or load. This is why we still use "last" to talk about the end of something or the most recent occurrence.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Last
Here are some common phrases and idioms using the word "last":
At last: Finally, after a long wait.
At long last: Finally, after a very long wait.
Last but not least: The final person or thing mentioned, but equally important.
The last straw: The final problem in a series of problems that makes a situation intolerable.
The last word: The final say in a matter.
To have the last laugh: To ultimately triumph over someone who previously seemed to have the advantage.
To last out: To endure or persist until the end.
To last the course: To complete a task or activity successfully.
To last a lifetime: To be long-lasting or durable.
While "last" is a versatile word, it doesn't appear in many complex idioms. This is likely because it's a relatively simple word with a straightforward meaning. However, the idioms listed above are commonly used and well-understood.
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Source Information
Definition of last from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
