hereafter, adv. (a., n.)
(hɪərˈɑːftə(r), -æ-)
[OE. héræfter, f. hér here adv. 16 + after: cf. Da. herefter, Sw. härefter.]
1. After, in this writing, book, or place; in the sequel; after this in order or position; sometimes = next in order, immediately after.
| c 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. iii. xxii. [xxx.] (1890) 250 Swa swa we eft heræfter secᵹaþ. c 1050 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 317/37 Heræfter we wyllað þisne circul amearkian. a 1225 Ancr. R. 112 Lo hwuch on asaumple her efter. a 1300 Cursor M. 27380, I sal þam recken siþen on rau, Wit þair springes her efter neist, Quen i ha tald þe office o preist. c 1315 Shoreham 164 Ase ich her after telle may. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 128 Of other sterres how they fare, I thenke here after to declare. 1508 Dunbar (title) The flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie heir efter followis. 1601 Chester Love's Martyr 165 (for 169) Hereafter folovv diverse Poeticall Essaies. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 233 In consequence of the statute 32 Hen. VIII. c. 28 which will be stated hereafter. |
2. After this in time; at a future time; in time to come.
| 1154 O.E. Chron. an. 1135 Men..sæden ð[at] micel þing sculde cumen her efter. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 43 Herefter iseh paul hwer .iii. deoflen ledden an meiden. a 1300 Cursor M. 6568 (Gött.) Here efter it sal sare rew ȝou. 1388 Wyclif Gal. vi. 17 Heraftir no man be heuy to me, for Y bere in my bodi the tokenes of oure Lorde Jhesu Crist. c 1477 Caxton Jason 42, [I] wolde that I were there, where I shall be v honderd yere here after. 1483 Vulgaria abs Terentio 16 b, I am so gladd that no thynge ereaftyr may make me sory. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 68 So would I have you thinke mee to be, at this present, and for ever hereafter to remaine. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. vi. 20 More of this hereafter. 1712 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 497, I shall send the rest hereafter. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 180 We cannot..anticipate the details which will hereafter be needed. |
3. In a future state; in the world to come.
| [1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 363 We hopen haue þe lif þat come schal her aftur.] 1618 Bp. Hall Serm. vii. Wks. 1837 V. 102 To learn so to be happy here, that it [a Christian's heart] may be more happy hereafter. 1736 Butler Anal. i. ii. Wks. 1874 I. 40 The general doctrine of religion, that God will reward and punish men for their actions hereafter. 1858 Gladstone Homer III. 515 What we are as men here depends very much on our conception of what we are hereafter to be. |
† 4. After or in accordance with this. Obs. rare.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 358 Ȝif it were a trewe sentence, God myȝte move men hereafter. |
B. as adj. To come, future. Now rare.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. ii. 10 That hereafter Ages may behold What ruine happened in reuenge of him. 1709 Mrs. Manley Secret Mem. (1736) 3 May his Hereafter Torments be never ending! 1799 A. Seward Lett. (1811) V. 269 Claims..to hereafter compensation. 1881 F. E. Warren Celtic Liturgy 103 Requesting the prayers of their hereafter readers. |
C. n.
1. Time to come: the future; futurity.
| 1546 J. Heywood Prov. (1867) 67 An auditour of a meane wit, Maie soone accompt, though hereafter come not yit. 1663 J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 408 Distrustful fears in reference to hereafter. 1689 W. Sherlock Death iii. §6 (1731) 143 The Reason..will serve for all hereafters, but will never serve for any Time present. 1807–8 Syd. Smith Plymley's Lett. iii. Wks. 1859 II. 145/2 Leave hereafter to the spirit and the wisdom of hereafter. 1883 in J. G. Butler Bible-Work II. 768 To read the story of our own hereafter. |
2. A future life; the world to come.
| 1702 Rowe Tamerl. i. i. 405 Wretches that are doubtful of Hereafter. 1713 Addison Cato v. i, 'Tis heaven it self, that points out an Hereafter. 1744 Wesley Wks. (1872) VIII. 26 What, if there be an hereafter, a judgment to come? 1855 Longfellow Hiaw. vi. 65 For he sang of..life undying..In the land of the Hereafter. |