latter

adj.

1. （刚提及的两者中）后者的；（系列中）最后的，末尾的
   being the second of two things, people or groups that have just been mentioned, or the last in a list
   1. The latter point is the most important.
      后面提及的那一点是最重要的。
2. 后半期的；后面的
   nearer to the end of a period of time than the beginning
   1. the latter half of the year
      下半年

noun

1. （刚提及的两者中）后者；（系列中）最后一位，末位
   the second of two things, people or groups that have just been mentioned, or the last in a list
   1. He presented two solutions. The latter seems much better.
      他提出了两个解决方案，后一个看起来要好得多。
   2. The town has a concert hall and two theatres. The latter were both built in the 1950s.
      这座城市有一个音乐厅和两个剧院。这两个剧院都是在20世纪50年代建成的。

1. PRON （两者之间的）后者
   When two people, things, or groups have just been mentioned, you can refer to the second of them as the latter.
   1. He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick.
      他追查到了堂弟和叔叔的下落，发现叔叔这时正在病中。
   2. Latter is also an adjective.
      
   3. There are the people who speak after they think and the people who think while they're speaking. Mike definitely belongs in the latter category.
      有些人开口之前会三思，而有些人想到什么就说什么。迈克绝对属于后者。
2. ADJ （一个时期或事件）后一半的，接近终了的
   You use latter to describe the later part of a period of time or event.
   1. He is getting into the latter years of his career...
      他正步入职业生涯的后半程。
   2. The latter part of the debate concentrated on abortion.
      后半部分的辩论集中在堕胎问题上。

The latter should only be used to refer to the second of two items which have already been mentioned: Given the choice between working for someone else and being on call day and night for the family business, she'd prefer the latter. The last of three or more items can be referred to as the last-named. Compare this with the former which is used to talk about the first of two things already mentioned.
the latter只能用来表示提到的两者中的后者： Given the choice between working for someone else and being on call day and night for the family business, she'd prefer the latter（在替人打工和为家族生意日夜候命之间，她宁愿选择后者）。指三者或以上事情中的最后一项，可用the last-named。试比较the former，它用于指提到的两者中的前者。

1. He compared the achievements of the British and the French during 1916 and concluded that the latter were better all around.
   他比较了1916年英国人和法国人的成就，结论是法国人在各方面都做得更好。
2. In his latter years religious mania clouded his mind.
   晚年的时候，对宗教的狂热让他丧失心智。
3. The windows would probably have been crafted in the latter part of the Middle Ages
   这些窗户很可能是中世纪后期精心制作的。
4. If the family home and joint pension rights are of equal value, the wife may choose the former and the husband the latter.
   如果家庭住房和共同养老金具有同样的价值，妻子可能会选前者，而丈夫会选后者。
5. He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick.
   他追查到了堂弟和叔叔的下落，发现叔叔这时正在病中。
6. He is getting into the latter years of his career
   他正步入职业生涯的后半程。
7. The latter part of the debate concentrated on abortion.
   后半部分的辩论集中在堕胎问题上。
8. The latter half of his life was spent in obscurity and loneliness.
   他在默默无闻中孤独地度过了后半生。
9. The essays that Parsons completed in the latter part of his life are of a piece with his earlier work.
   帕森斯后半生完成的文章和他的早期著作一脉相承。
10. The latter had for decades acted largely as a stooge for the party leaders.
    后者几十年来大半时间都在为该党领导人当走狗。
11. I would unhesitatingly choose the latter option
    我会毫不犹豫地选择后者。
12. The exercises can be fun and a good warm-up for the latter part of the programme
    这些练习很有趣，而且为该课程后面的部分做了很好的铺垫。
13. Prevents egress of the latter through the unsealed portion.
    阻止后者通过未接合部分出来。
14. The latter half of her life was really too sad.
    她的后半生实在太可悲了。
15. This latter point is of great importance.
    这后一个论点是非常重要的。
16. He held a brush in his hand, and, with all his airy superiority gone, he brushed potter's new clothes as the latter slowly turned this way and that way.
    他手里拿着一把刷子，原先那傲慢的神气全不见了；他替波特刷身上的新衣，波特则缓缓地、时左时右地转动着身子。
17. They keep horses and cattle, the former for riding, the latter for food.
    他们养马和牛，前者供骑乘，后者供食用。
18. The defendant made an opposing claim against the plaintiff by saying that the latter had accused him falsely.
    被告反诉原告诬陷。
19. Robert went up to the boss and asked for a rise, but the latter just laughed in his face.
    罗伯特跑到老板那儿要求增加工资，但老板却当面嘲弄了他一番。
20. This latter geometry he called astral geometry.
    这后一种几何他称为星空几何。
21. In the latter, we are using a Latin derivative which has exactly the same meaning.
    在后一种情况中，我们用的是一个有着完全相同含义的拉丁派生词。
22. If you compare ruby and diamond, the latter is more valuable.
    若你比较红宝石和钻石，则后者更珍贵。
23. The former is generally presumed to be a more modern method than the latter.
    前者模型通常会被认为比后者的方法更加现代。
24. They chose the latter.
    他们选择了后者。
25. This article focuses on the latter: the technical requirements.
    这篇文章集中讨论了后者：技术需求。
26. I had assumed that I knew enough about the latter, but clearly I was wrong.
    我原以为我对费用了解的很多，但是很显然我错了。
27. The latter option is used in our example.
    我们的示例中使用了后一个选项。
28. I approve of the latter.
    我同意后者。
29. I believe in the latter, but you don't have to agree with me.
    我相信，在后者，但你不一定要同意我的。
30. Logically, I know the answer to be the latter.
    逻辑上，我知道答案是后者。

noun

1. the second of two or the second mentioned of two
   1. Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered today