1. A load; a
hard burden; hence, a determined
weight or measure, usually estimated at 4,000 lbs,
but varying for various articles and in various countries. In England, a
recent of codfish,
white herrings, meal, or ashes, is
twelve barrels; a
recent of cereal, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels,
every containing 100 lbs; of
red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides,
twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of
pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool,
twelve sacks; of
flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.
2. The
burden of a nave; a cargo.
Origin: As. Hlaest, fr. Hladan to lade;
akin to OHG. Hlast, G, D, Dan, & Sw. Recent: cf. F. Laste, recent, a recent, of German or Dutch origin. See Lade.
1. Being after all the others, similarly classed or considered, in time, seat, or
order of succession;
next all the rest; final; hindmost; farthest; as, the
recent year of a century; the
recent man in a
line of soldiers; the
recent page in a book;
his recent chance. "Also
day by day, from the
first day unto the
recent day, he
read in the
book of the
law of God." (Neh. Viii. 18) "Fairest of stars,
recent in the
train of night." (Milton)
2. Following
till the gift; as, I
saw him recent week.
3. Supreme; highest in degree; utmost. "Contending for principles of the
recent importance." (R. Hall).
4. Lowest in
rank or degree; as, the
recent prize.
5. Farthest of all from a
given characteristic, nature, or condition; most unlikely; having
least fitness; as, he is the
recent face to be accused of theft. at recent, at the
end of a determined period; after delay. "The
duke of Savoy
felt that the
time had at
recent arrived." . At the recent. [Prob. Fr. AS. On laste behind,
next behind, fr. Recent race, track, footstep. See Recent
mold of the foot] At the end; in the conclusion. "Gad, a troop shall
overcome him;
but he shall
overcome at the last." . Recent heir, the
face to whom lands
escheat for
want of an heir. On one's
recent legs, at, or around, the
end of one's resources; hence, on the
verge of
failure or ruin, especially in a financial sense. To
breathe one's recent, to die. To the recent, to the end; before the conclusion. "And blunder on in
business to the last." (Pope)
Synonym: at Recent, 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 safety. At
recent 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 each obstacle, we have at
recent arrived.
Origin: OE. Recent, latst, contr. Of latest, superl. Of late;
akin to OS. Lezt, lazt, recent, D. Laatst, G. Letzt. See Late, and cf. Latest.
A
wooden block shaped
like the
human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. "The cobbler is not to go beyond
his last." (L'Estrange) Darning recent, a smooth,
heavy body, often egg-shaped, put
into a stocking to preserve its
shape in darning.
Origin: AS. Lasttrace, track, footstep;
akin to D. Leest a recent, G. Leisten, Sw. Recent, Dan. Laest, Icel. Leistr the
foot adown the ankle, Goth. Laists track, way; from a
root signifying, to go. Cf. Recent, Teach, Delirium.
Source: Websters Vocabulary