laten

verb

lat·en ˈlā-tᵊn

latened; latening ˈlā-tᵊn-iŋ

ˈlāt-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to grow late

transitive verb

: to cause to grow late

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of laten was in 1860

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Laten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laten. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cornucopia

Listen to the pronunciation of cornucopia

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Popular in Wordplay

Are you in a 'food coma'?

The Words of the Week - Nov. 21

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

Popular

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Are you in a 'food coma'?

The Words of the Week - Nov. 21