Terminology for the deceased

[jsiegelm]

Where does the term “late” come from as it refers to the deceased, eg- “the late President Reagan…?”

Thanks.

[mittu]

The sense of “deceased” (as in the late Mrs. Smith) is from 1490, from an adv. sense of “recently.”

Taken from here .

[butler1850]

He just doesn’t seem to be able to make it to his appointments any more… he’s late.

[panache45]

“Late” is used to denote a person who was alive within recent memory. So we hear of the “late” Ronald Reagan, because he was still alive during the memory of most people. But it would be incorrect to refer to the “late” George Washington.