late-term

The compound adjective 'late-term' is a modern English formation that transparently combines two elements with ancient lineages. 'Late' originates from the Proto-Germanic lataz, meaning "slow" or "sluggish," which evolved into the Old English sense of being after the proper or expected time. 'Term' descends from the Latin terminus, signifying a boundary, limit, or end point, which entered English via Old French. The logic of the compound is direct: it describes something occurring in the latter part of a defined period. Its most specific contemporary application is in medical and legal contexts, particularly to describe the advanced stages of pregnancy, where 'term' refers to the gestational period.

Structure: late (after the expected time) + term (a fixed period) - late: From Old English læt (slow, tardy), of Germanic origin. Functions as an adjective modifying the noun 'term'. - term: From Old French terme, from Latin terminus (boundary, limit, end). Functions as a noun, the core concept being modified.