eleventh-hour

the term 'eleventh-hour' is a compound formed from the numeral 'eleventh' and the noun 'hour'. its logic originates from a biblical parable in the gospel of matthew, where laborers hired at the eleventh hour (approximately 5 pm, the final working hour of the day) received the same wage as those hired earlier. this literal reference to the last hour of a working day evolved into a metaphorical idiom. it now signifies any action taken at the very last possible moment before a deadline, capturing the sense of urgency and final opportunity inherent in the original story.

Structure: eleventh + hour eleventh (from old english endleofta, meaning 'one left after ten', of germanic origin; functions as a numeral). hour (from old french hore, via latin hora from greek hōra, meaning 'season, hour'; functions as a noun).