Definition of latter

The word "latter" comes from Old English "lætur", which is a comparative form of "late", meaning "recent" or "new". In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), "latter" began to be used to mean "the second of two things" or "the second mentioned". This sense of "latter" is thought to have developed from the idea that the second of two things is newer or more recent than the first. In modern English, "latter" is often used to refer to the second of two things, people, or periods, as in "the former and the latter presidents". It can also be used to indicate a distinction or a contrast between two things, as in "the former was good, but the latter was better". Despite its long history, the word "latter" can sometimes be tricky to use correctly, as it is often confused with "latest", which refers to the most recent or latest thing.