Latter

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Latter!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Latter
latter
    Tweet adjective lat·ter \ˈla-tər\
: coming or happening near the end of a process, activity, series, life, etc.

Full Definition of LATTER

1

a :  belonging to a subsequent time or period :  more recent <the latter stages of growth>

b :  of or relating to the end <in their latter days>

c :  recent, present <affected by latter calamities>

2

:  of, relating to, or being the second of two groups or things or the last of several groups or things referred to <of ham and beef the latter meat is cheaper today> <of ham and beef the latter is cheaper today>

Examples of LATTER

1. the latter stages of the process
2. We'll go in the latter half of the year.
3. In his latter years he became blind.
4. … a fundamental trade-off between capitalist prosperity and economic security. As a nation we have chosen to have less of the former in order to have more of the latter. —David A. Stockman, Newsweek, 28 Apr. 1986

Origin of LATTER

Middle English, from Old English lætra, comparative of læt late

First Known Use: before 12th century

Here it is... the Word I Hate To Say for today!  Latter, not ladder.  You don't climb the latter, but the ladder.  You can't climb your ladder in the morning, but you can climb it in the latter part of the day!

This word, largely captured by the Mormons, is used as a term for followers of this religion.  Latter-Day Saints or LDS... not to be confused with LSD.  But then again, LDS and LSD are just about as similar as Latter and Ladder...  Too close for comfort I guess.

Latter... Ugh!  Why does the English language have so many words that either sound the same or sound similar.  With 26 letters in the English alphabet, one would think we could be more creative and unique.  As it is, if Google struggles to decipher the pronunciation between the two words, it is likely that other forms of communication will get it wrong too.


Favorite use of this word I hate to say (Be blessed!)...

Reference
Latter. (n.d.). Retrieved July 7, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latter

Image. (n.d.). Retrieved July 7, 2015, from http://www.bookofmormonbroadwaystore.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/o/bom_latter_day_button_copy.png

Video. (May 27, 2011) Retrieved July 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl-Ai-e65Z8