5. Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most
unlikely; having least fitness; as, he is the last person to be accused
of theft.
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At last, at the end of a certain period; after delay. "The duke of
Savoy felt that the time had at last arrived." Motley. -- At the last.
[Prob. fr. AS. on lste behind, following behind, fr. lst race, track,
footstep. See Last mold of the foot.] At the end; in the conclusion.
[Obs.] "Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the
last." Gen. xlix. 19. -- Last heir, the person to whom lands escheat
for want of an heir. [Eng.] Abbott. -- On one's last legs, at, or near,
the end of one's resources; hence, on the verge of failure or ruin,
especially in a financial sense. [Colloq.] -- To breathe one's last, to
die. -- To the last, to the end; till the conclusion.
And blunder on in business to the last.
Pope.
Syn. -- At Last, At Length. These phrases both denote that some delayed
end or result has been reached. At length implies that a long period
was spent in so doing; as, after a voyage of more than three months, we
at Length arrived safe. At last commonly implies that something has
occurred (as interruptions, disappointments, etc.) which leads us to
emphasize the idea of having reached the end; as, in spite of every
obstacle, we have at last arrived.
Last (?), adv. [See Last, a.] 1. At a time or on an occasion which is
the latest of all those spoken of or which have occurred; the last
time; as, I saw him last in New York.