An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/spät

by Friedrich Kluge

spät, adj. and adv., ‘late(ly), backward,’ from the equiv. MidHG. spœte, OHG. spâti, adj. (but MidHG. spâte, OHG. spâto, adv.); comp. Du. spade, ‘late.’ Goth. preserves only spêdiza, ‘later,’ and spêdists, ‘latest, last, least.’ The Teut. spêd- cannot be traced farther.