late-spring

The compound "late-spring" is a transparent combination of two native English elements. "Late" originates from the Proto-Germanic lataz, meaning "slow" or "sluggish," which evolved to denote a position after the expected or usual time. "Spring," for the season, is a shortening of "springing time" or "spring of the leaf," derived from the verb meaning to rise or leap, capturing the season's characteristic burst of growth. When combined, the morphemes retain their core meanings, creating a logical temporal descriptor for the latter part of the season of renewal. This follows a common Germanic pattern of forming compound adjectives to specify periods within a natural cycle.

Structure: late (after the expected time) + spring (the season) - late: From Old English læt (slow, tardy, late), of Germanic origin. Functions as an adjective modifying the following noun. - spring: From Old English springan (to leap, burst forth), referring to the season when plants begin to grow. Functions as the head noun in this compound.