Belatedly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Done or occurring after the expected or usual time
2. Performed or arriving later than planned or proper
3. Happening or executed beyond the scheduled or appropriate moment

Etymology: "Belatedly" is a simple formation: the adjective "belated" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly." The adjective itself is built from "be-," a prefix meaning "about" or "thoroughly," attached to "late." The prefix carries the sense of something being done thoroughly or excessively, so "belated" describes something that has been overtaken by lateness, arriving after the proper time has passed. The prefix "be-" has a long Germanic history. It traces back through Proto-Germanic to older Indo-European roots, and in Old English it was used productively to form verbs and adjectives. "Late" descends from Old English "læt," a word meaning slow or tardy, which is itself related to the idea of being behind schedule. The suffix "-ly" comes from Old English "-līc," meaning having the form or character of something, which gradually wore down to the adverbial ending seen today. Adding it to "belated" produced an adverb describing an action performed in a tardy manner, or a thing arriving after its due time.

Synonyms: tardily, late, afterward, eventually, subsequently

Antonyms: promptly, quickly, immediately, instantly, on time