lately

First attested in the 15th century. From late +‎ -ly. Compare Old English lætīċe (“slowly, tardily”).[1]

• IPA^(key): /ˈleɪt.li/

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• Rhymes: -eɪtli
• Hyphenation: late‧ly

lately (comparative latelier or more lately, superlative lateliest or most lately)

1. Recently; not long ago; of late.

   I'd lately returned from Japan.

   It's only lately that I've been well enough to get out of bed.

   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene i], page 181:

     Ant. […] I am content : ſo he will let me haue / The other halfe in vſe, to render it / Vpon his death, vnto the Gentleman / That lately ſtole his daughter. / Two things prouided more, […]

• freshly, lately; see also Thesaurus:recently

• Talley, lealty, yell at