Last | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Lāst, a.

adjective

(6), a. [Contracted from latest, superl. of late; O. Sax. lest, last, last, M. L. Ger. lest, D. laatst, from laat, late, O. H. Ger. lezzist, lezist, M. H. Ger. lezist, leezest, lest, N. H. Ger. letz t, A.-S. latemist, lattemest.]

Sense 1. Coming after all the others of a series, in time or place; following all the rest; final; closing; hindmost; as, the last hour of the day; the last day of the year.

Here, last of Britons, let your names be read. Pope.

Sense 2. Next before the present; as, the last week; the last year.

Sense 3. Incapable of being extended, increased, or surpassed; utmost.

They are contending for principles of the last importance. Robert Hall.

Sense 4. Lowest; meanest.

Antilochus Takes the last prize. Pope.

Sense 5. Perfected, or made skillful, by the longest practice or utmost effort. [Rare.]

Why thrown aside thy masterpiece, half wrought, While meaner efforts thy last hand enjoy? Young.

Sense 6. Farthest of all others from possessing a given quality, character, or use; most unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused of theft; he is the last man to appear generous; this is the last place in which one might expect to find him.

At last, or at the last, at the end; in the conclusion. “Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last.” Gen. xlix. 19.—On one's last legs, having reached the last stage of exhaustion, in want of resources, or credit, and the like; almost overwhelmed; on the verge of failure or ruin.—To the last, to the end; till the conclusion.

And blunder on in business to the last. Pope.

Lāst, adv.

adverb

adv. [A-S. latōst, superl. of late, lāte, tarde, sero. See supra.]

The last time; the time before the present; as, I saw him last at New York.
In conclusion; finally.

Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires,

Adores, and, last, the thing adored desires. Dryden.*
After all others in order or time.

Lāst, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. LASTED; p. pr. & vb. n. LASTING.] [A-S. læstan, to perform, execute, follow, last, continue, O. Sax. lēstian, lēstean, Goth. laistjan, O. H. Ger. leisten, N. H. Ger. leisten, from A-S. læst, liæst, trace, footstep, course, last, Goth. laists, track, trace, Icel. leystr, lystr, shoe.]

Sense 1. To continue in time; to endure; to remain in existence.

That man may last, but never lives, Who much receives, but nothing gives. Gibbons.

Sense 2. To continue unimpaired; not to decay or perish; to hold out; to continue unconsumed.

These are standing marks of facts . . . contrived with great wisdom to last till time shall be no more. Addison.

Lāst, n.

noun

n. [A-S. hlæst, from hladan, to lade; O. H. Ger. hlast, N. H. Ger., D., Dan., & Sw. last; whence Fr. laste, last, a last, and lest, It. lasto, ballast.]

A load; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4000 lbs., but varying exceedingly as to different articles. A last of codfish, white herrings, meal, and ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels; of red herrings, twenty cades; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1700 lbs.
The burden of a ship.

Lāst, n.

noun

n. (Law.) A court held in the marshes of Kent, to levy rates for preserving the marshes.

Cowell.

Lāst, n.

noun

n. [A-S. last, læst, D. leest, Dan. & Sw. läst, O. H. Ger. leist, M. H. Ger. leiste, N. H. Ger. leisten. See LAST, v. i.] A mold or form of the human foot, made of wood, on which shoes are formed. The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. L'Estrange.

Lāst, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To shape with a last; to fasten or fit to a last; as, to last a boot.