1. （兩者之間的）后者 When two people, things, or groups have just been mentioned, you can refer to the second of them as the latter.
e.g. He tracked down his cousin and uncle. The latter was sick. 他追查到了堂弟和叔叔的下落，發(fā)現叔叔這時(shí)正在病中。
2. （一個(gè)時(shí)期或事件）后一半的，接近終了的 You use latter to describe the later part of a period of time or event.
e.g. He is getting into the latter years of his career... 他正步入職業(yè)生涯的后半程。 e.g. The latter part of the debate concentrated on abortion. 后半部分的辯論集中在墮胎問(wèn)題上。
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只能用來(lái)表示提到的兩者中的后者： Given the choice between working for someone else and being on call day and night for the family business, she'd prefer the latter（在替人打工和為家族生意日夜候命之間，她寧愿選擇后者）。指三者或以上事情中的最后一項，可用the last-named。試比較the former，它用于指提到的兩者中的前者。
latter英英釋義
latter是什么意思
noun
1. the second of two or the second mentioned of two
e.g. Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the latter is remembered today