ToBE #41: The earliest and the latest

One of the earliest subscribers of ToBE has sought to know the difference between ‘earliest’ and ‘latest’.

As highlit above, ‘earliest’ means ‘at an early point in time’. ‘-est’ indicates there is nothing further than that: Fastest, Slowest, Weakest, etc.

• I can give you the write-up earliest by Monday morning. => I can’t give it any earlier.
• The earliest flight to Bangalore is at 5:30 AM. => There is no earlier flight.

‘Latest’ means ‘at a later point in point’; as well as ‘the most recent/up-to-date’.

• Even if he comes late, Baba will be the latest. => Most up-to-date.
• ‘Baba’ is not the latest; Chandramukhi is the latest Rajinikanth movie. => Most recent (or last released).
• Please have the report sent to me latest by Thursday. => ‘No later than’ Thursday.

Hope this helps.