摘要：at last为at long last的缩写，即“在长时间[忍耐]的周围”。动词endure的含义是“忍受;持久;持续;忍耐”。

at last的last义为duration, 不是排序的“最后一个”。

at last为at long last的缩写，即“在长时间[忍耐]的周围”。动词endure的含义是“忍受;持久;持续;忍耐”。

因此，at last有“经过长久忍耐之后”的蕴意，所以它相当于finally, 如

【例句1】I've finished my essay at last! (我终于完成了我的论文！) [剑桥高级学者辞典]

【例句2】I'm so glad that we've found you at last! (我很高兴我们终于找到你了！) [柯林斯高级学者辞典]

【例句3】We reached the summit at last. (我们终于到达了山顶。)[朗文当代英语词典]

【例句4】"All right", he said at last."You may go." (“好吧，”他终于说。“你可以走了。”)[柯林斯高级学者辞典]

【例句5】In the countryside she found herself freed at last from the anxiety that had plagued her in the city. (在农村，她发现自己终于摆脱了困扰她在城市的焦虑。) [剑桥高级学者辞典]

At last也可以放在句首，

【例句6】At last it was time to leave.（终于到了离开的时候了。） [朗文当代英语词典]

【例句7】At last we arrived at the hotel and were taken to our rooms. （最后，我们到达了酒店，被带到了我们的房间。） [剑桥高级学者辞典]

【例句8】At last the train arrived in the station. （火车终于到站了。 ） [柯林斯高级学者辞典]

特别强调还是at long last, 如

【例句9】At long last his prayers had been answered. （他的祈祷终于得到了回应。） [牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句10】At long last the government is starting to listen to our problems. （政府终于开始倾听我们的问题了。）[剑桥高级学者辞典]

【例句11】Here, at long last, was the moment he had waited for. （终于，他等待的时刻到了。）[柯林斯高级学者辞典]

【例句12】He has agreed, at long last, to give his version of events. （他终于同意说出他对事件的看法。）[剑桥高级学者辞典]

因为at last的last是duration，不是排序的最后一个，所以没有它前面没有定件词the。

at last与at first(一开始，刚开始)对应，后者前面也没有定件词。

若强调“排序最后”，the是需要的，如

【例句13】At the last count inflation was 10.9 per cent. (根据最新统计，通货膨胀率为10.9%。) [柯林斯高级学者辞典]

【例句14】At the last moment (= as late as possible) he changed his mind. (在最后一刻，他改变了主意。)[剑桥高级学者辞典]

来源：Tin波波聊时尚