late-in-life
UK[ˌleɪt ɪn ˈlaɪf]US[ˌleɪt ɪn ˈlaɪf]
adj
Occurring or acquired at an advanced age or stage in life.
Morpheme Breakdown
late
in
life
late
after the usual time
in
within
life
existence
Etymology
The compound adjective 'late-in-life' is a modern English formation built from three native Germanic elements. 'Late' carries its original sense of being after an expected point, while 'life' refers to the span of one's existence. The preposition 'in' links them, specifying the period within which the lateness occurs. The phrase literally means "occurring late within the span of life," and its logic is transparent, directly applying the core meanings of its components to describe phenomena—such as achievements, changes, or education—that happen during a person's later years.
Analysis
Structure: late (after the usual time) + in (within) + life (existence)
- late: From Old English læt (slow, tardy), of Germanic origin. Functions as an adjective describing something occurring after the expected or usual time.
- in: From Old English in, a preposition of Germanic origin. Functions as a preposition indicating a state, condition, or period.
- life: From Old English līf, of Germanic origin. Functions as a noun denoting the condition that distinguishes active beings from inorganic matter.
Examples
She pursued a late-in-life career change and became a successful painter.
The study focused on the challenges of late-in-life parenting.
He took great pride in his late-in-life graduation from university.