a. (and adv.). Obs. exc. dial. Also 4 latsom, -sum. [OE. lætsum, f. læt LATE a.1 + -SOME.] Backward; slow, sluggish; late.
11[?]. O. E. Chron., an. 1089 (Laud MS). Wæs swiðe lætsum ʓear on corne.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 793. He es swyft to spek And latsom and slaw for to here.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. iv. 10. Y am of more latsum and of more slow tongue.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 1142. And broght hym preciouse giftes and latsomest to fynd.
1469. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 21. Whether is so latesum in this cuntrey, that men can neither well gett corne nor hay.
1847. Whistle-Binkie (Scot. Songs) (1890), II. 200. Weve dandered baith latesome and early.
187789. in N. W. Linc. Gloss.
Hence † Latesomeness.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxiii. 3. Wha is sett here for latsumnes.
1357. Lay Folks Catech., 528. Of this syn [slauthe] comes latsumnesse or lite to draw opon lenthe Any gode dede that we sal do.