▪ I. after, adv. and prep.
(ˈɑːftə(r), æ-)
Forms: 1–3 æfter, 2–3 eafter, 2–4 efter, 3–9 after; occas. 4–6 aftir, -yr, -ur, -re. North. 4–7 efter, -ir, -yr.
[OE. æfter cogn. w. OS. and OHG. aftar, -er, OFris. efter adv. and prep., ON. aptr adv., eptir prep., Goth. aftra back, aftaro from behind, adv.; Gr. ἀπωτέρω, Skr. apatar{amacacu}m. Orig. a compar. form of af, L. ab, Gr. ἀπό, Skr. ápa, with compar. suffix -ter, -ther; = ‘farther off, at a greater distance from the front, or from a point in front’; and hence in the Teutonic languages ‘more to the rear, behind, later.’ Used in the oldest Eng. as a separable verbal particle capable of governing a case (dat. or acc.) in composition, whence, when detached from the vb., it appeared as adv. or prep. according to the absence or presence of an object.]
As adv. or prep. in separable comp.
| c 885 K. ælfred Oros. i. x, Him æfter folᵹiende wæron. c 1230 Juliana (R.MS.) (1872) 32 Ant hare fan..þat ham efter sohten [Bodl. MS. ferden ham efter]. |
A. adv.
1. Of place or order: In the rear, behind. (With go, come, follow, etc.)
| c 1000 O.E. Gosp. Matt. xxi. 9 Ðæt folc þæt þar beforan ferde, and þæt þar æfter ferde. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. ibid., Ðæt folc þe þær before ferde, & þæt þe þær æfter ferde. 1205 Layamon 1572 Þe king sette to fleonne and al þa ferde eafter. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1001 & þay folȝyeaþ after wiþ rendouns. 1611 Bible Luke xxiii. 55 And the women also..followed after, and beheld the Sepulchre. Nursery Rhyme, Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after. Mod. Put your own first, and let these come after. |
2. Of time: Subsequently, at a later time; afterwards. Formerly used before the vb., now only at the end of a sentence or clause, and chiefly in phr. before or after, or as in 2 b.
| a 1000 Beowulf 24 Ðǽm eafera wæs æfter cenned. c 1220 Leg. St. Kath. 1223 We mahen haue sikere bileaue to arisen alle after. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 127 And wyst nocht quhat suld eftir tyd. c 1400 Destr. Troy iv. 1439 Gyf an end hade ben now, & neuer noyet efter. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 65 Men may wel lye whan it is nede and after amende it. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. ii. 40 A..substance, which you may after cleanse by ablution. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. i. ii. 76 If you know, That I do fawne on men..And after scandall them. a 1631 Donne Serm. xcii. IV. 171 The very place where Solomon's Temple was after built. 1640 Fuller Abel Rediv., Peter Martyr (1867) I. 251 Our worthy Jewel, after bishop of Salisbury. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. I. 256 All we do after is but a faint struggle. 1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 5 The king smote the young prince on the face, and after his servants slew him. Mod. I never spoke to him after; I was never so treated either before or after. |
b. esp. In combination with another adv. of time or adverbial phrase, soon after, long after, an hour after, a year after. The day after, the year after = next following.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark x. 1 Gesomnadon efter sona meniᵹo to him. a 1000 ? Cædmon Gen. (Grein) 550 æfter siððan. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1640 & efter-sones of þe same he serued hym þere. 1513 Douglas æneis ix. v. 40 Brocht in schort quhile eftir syne. 1536 Wriothesley Chron. (1875) I. 36 The morrowe after, being Satterdaie. 1611 Bible John i. 35 The next day after John stood, and two of his disciples. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. ii. iv. 73 This flux continued..for some few dayes after. Ibid. ii. vi. 87 She died about two months after. 1753 Hanway Travels (1762) II. viii. i. 183 Soon after the artillery..proclaimed the news to the people. Mod. That must have been in the week after. |
B. prep.
I. Of place.
1. a. With verbs of motion (expressed or implied): Following, going, or coming in the rear of, behind.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke ix. 23 Ȝyf hwá wyle æfter me cuman. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 5 Al þe..folc þe eode efter him..sungun þisne lofsong. c 1230 Ancren Riwle 196 Up oðe hulles heo clumben efter us. 1297 R. Glouc. 398 Roberd erl of Flaundres after þulke ost come. 1388 Wyclif Luke xiv. 27 He that berith not his cross, and cometh aftir me. 1526 Tindale ibid., Come after me [so 1611]. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, v. iii. 27 Shall we after them? After them, nay, before them, if we can. 1707 Lond. Gaz. mmmmcccxxxiii/7 After whom rode on Horse-back a Courier of the Republick. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague i. ii. 271 That merciless ghost that walks the sea After our ship for ever. c 1840 J. S. Knowles Virgin i. i, The people will throng after him with shouts. |
b. after you (and similar, incl. extended, expressions): a formula used in yielding precedence; after you with, colloq. request for the next turn at (something).
| 1650 R. Heath Clarastella Epigrams 33 Oh! after him is manners. a 1652 [see manner n.1 7 a]. 1721 J. Kelly Sc. Proverbs 42 After you is good Manners. Spoken when our Betters offer to serve us first. 1738 Swift Polite Conv. ii. 139 Oh! Madam; after you is good Manners. 1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. xiv. 139, I remember the fine-company style of Tildor's tea-party, ‘After you's manners’, whenever we passed the plate. 1927 W. E. Collinson Contemp. Eng. 31 The card-expressions now most prevalent in a figurative application are drawn in the main from bridge e.g...after you, partner. 1935 Isherwood Mr. Norris ix. 136 ‘After you.’ ‘No, please.’ 1955 E. Pound Classic Anthol. iii. 152 Taught 'em to bow and stand aside, Say: after you, and: if you please. |
† 2. Of position: Behind. Obs. rare.
| c 1380 Wyclif Tract. i. 22 Crist clepide hym Sathanas and badde him go after hym. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2776 Spedilich in þey wente, & After hymen made þe gate faste. c 1400 Apol. for Loll. 56 Go o bak after Me, Sathanas. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour a ij, Suche ther be that lawgheth to fore yow, whiche after youre back goo mockyng. 1704 Newton Opticks (J.) Sometimes I placed a third prism after a second, and sometimes also a fourth after a third. |
† 3. Following the course of (anything extended in space); hence, along (a linear dimension); across or away over (an extended surface). Obs. or dial.
| 878 O.E. Chron. He [ælfred] lytle werede..æfter wudum for, and on mor fæstenum. a 1000 Beowulf 2854 Ȝesawon þa æfter wætere Wyrm-cynnes fela. c 1200 Moral Ode 233 Þor is woninge & wop after eche strete. 1205 Layamon 13777 Al þat verden æfter wæi. Ibid. 23140 And fluȝen after þere sæ. [In Somerset a keeper says, ‘You'd best go down along after that wall—after that ditch;’ an apothecary says, ‘the pain seems to lie after the cheek bone.’ Cf. ‘You had better follow the wall.’] |
† b. Along the surface of, close to. Obs. rare.
| a 1000 Shrine 132 Þæt haliȝe blod orn æfter eorðan. 1523 Fitzherbert Husbandry (1534) D iv, Hey commeth of a grasse called crofote, and groweth flatte, after the erthe. |
4. Following with intent to overtake, pursuing, in pursuit of. a. Primarily, in reference to things in motion; b. also to things at rest, when their place is doubtful; esp. with go, send: in search of, in quest of, to find. to be after: to be in pursuit of, trying to reach or get into the company of (a person), trying to get or do (a thing); also, to attend to, keep watch upon, ‘see to’.
| a. c 1000 ælfric Gen. xxxi. 36 For hwilcum gylta ferdest þu þus after me? 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud. MS.) an. 1132 Þe king sende efter him. 1375 Barbour Bruce v. 511 Eftir hym in hy he sent. 1611 Bible 1 Sam. xxiv. 14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dogge, after a flea. 1623 Sanderson 35 Serm. (1681) I. 91 He must after them, and smite them, and pluck the spoil out of their teeth. 1708 Lond. Gaz. mmmmccccxix/5 They stand from us, and we after them with all the Sail we can. a 1884 Mod. Run after him and catch him! |
| b. c 1000 ælfric Deut. vi. 14 Ne far þu æfter fremdum godum. 1061 O.E. Chron. (D.) Her for Ealdred biscop to Rome æfter his pallium. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 7 God almihti sende his apostles..efter þe assa fole. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 500 Hys squyeres bode he ther Aftyr hys armor for to far. 1611 Bible Deut. vi. 14 Yee shall not goe after other gods. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 201 There is nobody comes after her: she receives no Letters. 1775 Sheridan Rivals v. ii. 152 What tricks are you after now? 1856 C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain i. vii. 67 You are a little bit of a sloven, and..some one must be always after you. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. II. x. 462 The new Metropolitan went to Rome after his pallium. a 1884 Mod. fam. There are many after this situation. She has too many followers; always some young man after her. |
c. Anglo-Ir. With to be and pres. pple.: (a) to be in the act of; to be on the point of, desirous of, bent on (doing something); (b) to have just (done something).
| 1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. iv. iii. 99 The Irishman..utterly refused to be after fighting in any such manner. 1827 J. Barrington Personal Sk. Own Times I. i. 208 Then it's fitter..for you to be after putting your sign there in your pocket. 1848 M. Kelly tr. Lynch's Cambrensis Eversus I. 35 A prince who was then after renouncing the dogmas of the ancient creed. 1862 T. C. Croker Fairy Legends S. Ireland 220 It is not every lady that would be after making [sc. would have made] such an offer. 1904 J. M. Synge Shadow of Glen (1905) 9 He's after dying on me, God forgive him. 1916 J. B. Cooper Coo-oo-ee viii. 93 ‘Gorrah!’ exclaimed Mrs. O'Callaghan. ‘Is he after makin' me drunk?’ 1922 Joyce Ulysses 295 Sure I'm after seeing him not five minutes ago. 1938 P. Kavanagh Green Fool xxv. 260 If it wasn't the turnips it was the pigs were after breaking loose, or a hen they wanted me help catch for the fowl dealer. 1958 B. Behan Borstal Boy i. 125 Well, I was after living through the winter and on the ninth I would be seventeen. 1979 Lore & Lang. Jan. 13, I would have enclosed the thirty-five dollars I owe you, only I'm already after sealing the envelope. |
5. Hence, Denoting the aim or object of many vbs., adjs., and ns. of action; the idea of in pursuit of, passing into those of in order to overtake, attain to, come up with, meet with, find, discover, learn; obtain, get, have. † a. To stand after, abide, after; i.e. in expectation of, to catch, meet. Obs.
| c 1200 Ormul. 6506 Herode king Bad affterr þeȝȝre com. 1297 R. Glouc. 367 After betere wynd hii moste þere at stonde. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. (1868) 13 Yif þou abidest after helpe of þi leche. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. ii. 124 Hewes in þe halyday · after hete wayten. 1515 Festyvall (W. de Worde) 79 b, The abbot..stode under a pyler and abode after Thomas. |
b. To look after, see, after (a thing gone, going, or liable to go); hence, To look to the state of, attend to.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 616 Eftir the fyre he lukit fast. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 14 Esteward ich byhulde · after þe sonne. a 1699 A. Halkett Autobiog. (1875) 73 Goe to Edinburgh to looke affter my concerne. 1833 H. Martineau Brooke Farm i. 2 To meet the master looking after his fruit-trees. a 1884 Mod. Is there anyone to look after the cows? |
c. To call after, shout after, whistle, after. Also fig. (obs.; repl. by for) To seek to get by calling, whistling, etc.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iv. 127 The kynge fram consail cam · and callyd after mede. c 1500 Cocke Lorell Bote (1843) 12 Some stered at the helme behynde, Some whysteled after the wynde. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 59 (1806) II. 87 They never call after those who run away from them. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. iv, The very children..will hoot after us. Mod. He shouted after me down the street. |
d. To search after, seek after, inquire after, ask, after (the missing, wanted, absent, or unknown).
| a 1000 Beowulf 670 Wlonc hæleþ..æfter hæleþum fræᵹn. c 1300 K. Alis 1825 Uche mon soughte after socour. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 543, I seygh neuere palmere..axen after hym. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 22 Earnestlie seik efter things pleasand to the. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. i. 63 He after honour hunts, I after love. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 29 My Seruant Trauers, whom I sent..to listen after Newes. 1611 Bible Deut. xii. 30 That thou enquire not after their gods. 1751 Johnson Rambl. No. 144 ¶11 This impartial and zealous enquirer after truth. 1775 Sheridan Rivals ii. i, I told him you had sent me to inquire after his health. 1875 Farrar (title) ‘Seekers after God.’ a 1884 Mod. Hearing of his illness I called to ask after him. He inquired very kindly after my parents. |
e. With vbs., adjs., and ns. of desire; as to long, hanker, hunger, thirst, strive; be eager, greedy; have a hankering, desire.
| a 1000 Beowulf 3762 Him æfter deórum men dyrne langaþ. c 1220 Ureisun of our Louerde 185 Hu wilneþ after cunfort on eorþe. c 1400 Gamelyn 630 He was sore alonged after a good meel. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xlii. 1 Like as the hert desyreth [1611 panteth after] the water brokes, So longeth my soule after the, o God. 1642 Rogers Naaman 479 An ardent affection after it, as one that is famished. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 57 (1806) II. 64 Will Ubi, who is so thirsty after the reputation of a companion. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 301 A prevailing desire after a peaceable accommodation. 1800 Coleridge Wallenst. ii. iii, Because I Endeavoured after peace, therefore I fall. 1842 Macaulay Ess. (1848) II. 144 He was greedy after power with a greediness all his own. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I. v. 52 This brave man thought ever of his absent child, and longed after him. 1879 C. Geikie Life of Christ lvi. 678 The priesthood had striven after kingly power and rank. |
II. Of time.
6. Following in the succession of time; in succession to. Freq. in expressions of the type day after day, man after man.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John i. 30 æfter me cymð wer þe me beforan ᵹeworden wæs. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 75 And ic ou wile seggen word efter word. 1297 R. Glouc. 60 Þis Kymbel aftur hys fader kyng was of þis londe. 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physic 9/1 Doe this the continuance of 9 dayes after other, every morning. 1611 Bible John i. 30 After me cometh a man which is preferred before me. 1611, etc. [see year 7 a]. 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 115 They are not good to be taken after meat. [Cf. Grace after Meat.] 1631, etc. [see time n. 32]. 1674 R. Strange S. Thomas Cantilupe xxiii. 293 And soe strophe after strophe till the hymne was ended. 1798 Coleridge Anc. Mar. 115 Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 262 And what was it to him who ruled after him? Ibid. II. 460 Turning out judge after judge, till the bench had been filled with men ready to obey implicitly the directions of the government. 1866 Sala Barbary 93 In front of the Grand Hotel gather group after group. 1868 Dilke Greater Britain I. i. iii. 34 Time after time I heard the complaint, ‘The Yankees treat us shamefully, I reckon.’ a 1884 Mod. Time after time I urged him to do it. 1887 [see hour 1 a]. 1893 B. Harraden Ships that Pass i. vii, ‘It seems so little to ask,’ she cried to herself time after time. |
7. Subsequent to a space of time; after the interval of, at the close of. In mod. usage after three months varies with three months after, the former emphasizing the interval.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvii. 63 æfter þrym daᵹon ic arise. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. ibid., æfter þreom daᵹen ic arise. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 40 The land..Lay desolat eftyr hys day. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxvii. 63 After thre dayes I shal ryse aȝen. 1526 Tindale ibid., After thre dayes I will aryse agayne. 1582 N. T. (Rhem.) Then after fourtene yeres I vvent vp againe to Hierusalem [Wycl. fourtene ȝeer aftir; Tind. xiiii. yeares after that; Cranm. xiiii yeres thereafter; Genev. & 1611 fourtene yeres after]. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. ii. v. 80 After a while she fell into a night feauer. 1641 French Distill. (1651) v. 109 They will after a time contract a mucilaginous slimie matter. 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) II. xiii. i. 283 After putting garrisons in these places, he marched for Tavriz. 1877 Brockett Cross. & Cresc. 185 After ages of submission, they became restless and rebellious. a 1884 Mod. After two years' absence Richard returned to England. After a long interval the task was resumed. |
8. a. Subsequent to or later than a point of time. (Not necessarily in immediate sequence.) after hours: after the regular hours of work; also, after the regular hours of opening (of a public house, etc.). Also (both senses) attrib. and in form after-hour.
| a 855 O.E. Chron. an. 774 æfter sunnan setlgonge. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 47 On þe ehteðe dai efter his burþe. 1297 R. Glouc. 407 Anon after Mydsomer þys batayle ydo was. 1384 Chaucer L.G.W. 580 Afftyr the deth of Tholome..Reynede his queen Cleopatras. c 1440 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867) 25 Eftire þis sall þou wiete whilke ere þe ten comandement{iacu}s. 1587 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) II. 117 Adrian the..legat came too late, as who should say, a day after the faire. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 14 æternal lyffe..for y⊇ chosin eftir deathe. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. i. §i. (1873) The narration may be before the fact as well as after. 1611 Bible Jos. x. 14 There was no day like that, before it, or after it. 1641 Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Minute Bk. (1855) 98 Four dayes efter your receipt heirof. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley viii. 124 It was long after dark. 1861 Trafford City & Suburb (1862) 463 One night after hours he borrowed the sketch. a 1870 Mod. (in Dickens) I'll work after hours and finish it. 1879 Tennyson Lover's T. 74 The eleventh moon After their marriage. 1929 Punch 23 Jan. 90/2 A few austere theatricals drinking coffee and orange-juice because it was after hours. 1930 Times Educ. Suppl. 5 Apr. p. iv/4 These after-hour labours, done in a man's own time. 1947 in R. de Toledano Frontiers of Jazz xvi. 175 His unflagging interest in after-hours music. 1957 Economist 19 Oct. 256/2 It informed broker clients that..after hours facilities would in future be confined to ‘small routine business’. |
b. Past (a certain hour). Now chiefly dial. and U.S.
| 1732 B. Lynde Diary (1880) 24, a.m. ½ after 5 I went with son's horse. 1774 P. V. Fithian Jrnl. (1900) 271, I..rode thence to Westmoreland Court House ten Miles by half after six. 1775 in Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. XLVIII. 52 We was preaded [i.e. paraded] about half after two in the morning. 1809 M. Edgeworth Mme de Fleury i, in Tales Fashionable Life II. 167 It was now half after four. 1905 N.Y. Even. Post 27 Jan. 3 About half after twelve the roof of the building fell in with a crash. 1961 A. Miller Misfits i. 13 ‘Young man? You have the time?’..‘It's twenty after nine.’ ‘After!’ Isabelle comes farther out on the porch and calls up to a second-floor window: ‘Dear girl? It's twenty after!’ |
9. Of temporal and logical sequence: Subsequent to and in consequence of.
| a 1000 Beowulf 3216 Þá þæt sweord ongan æfter heaþoswáte wanian. c 1280 E.E.P. 20 Anoþer wol after þan · areri cuntake. 1475 Caxton Jason 35 b, After that I understonde by your wordes. 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) I. vii. xcii. 426 After what has been said..we may contemplate the superior charms of liberty. 1877 W. Lytteil Landmarks i. iv. 34 After what has been already said, any one will readily see that, etc. a 1884 Mod. After his behaviour to his parents, what could you expect? |
10. Of temporal sequence and logical opposition: Subsequent to and notwithstanding. esp. in after all; also (U.S.) as one word.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 347 Harke how the villaine would close now, After his treasonable abuses. 1710 Palmer Proverbs 69 After all our complaints of the lawyers and the law, there is no man in this kingdom too big for either. 1846 Tennyson in Punch X. 106/1 Surely, after all, The noblest answer unto such Is kindly silence when they brawl. 1876 Trevelyan Macaulay iii. 113 After all, as far as your verses are concerned. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. ii. 20 The Roman occupation was, after all, very superficial. a 1884 Mod. That he should continue his visits after such a rebuff is unaccountable. 1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 1 July (Advt. Suppl.), Afterall, the movement of people, not vehicles, is what counts. 1979 Tucson Mag. Feb. 29/1 Affluence, afterall, makes people mobile. 1984 Washington Post 2 Aug. dc12/1 Afterall, what other game accommodates so many athletes in so small a space at so slight a cost? |
III. Of order.
11. Next to in point of order or importance.
| c 1220 Ureisun of Ure Lefdi 125 To þe one is al mi trust efter þine leoue sune. c 1230 St. Marh. 13 Ich habbe efter bellzebub mest monnes bone ibeon. 1697 Dryden Virgil, Pastorals vii. 30 Codrus after Phœbus sings the best. 1777 Sir W. Jones Arcadia 105 And after Pan thy lips will grace it best. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 425 ‘I am content,’ he answer'd, ‘to be loved A little after Enoch.’ |
IV. Of manner.
† 12. Following as one follows a leader or guide; in obedience to, in compliance or harmony with, according to a law, will, word, advice. Obs.
| c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Luke ii. 22 Gifylled werun daᵹas clænsunᵹe his æfter æ Moyses. a 1000 Ags. Metr. Ps. cxviii. 149 æfter ð{iacu}num domum do me hálne. c 1200 Ormul. 119 Eȝȝþerr here ȝede swa Rihht affterr godess lare. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 6132 Hys angels þan, aftir his wille, Sal first departe þe gude fra þe ille. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2891 Wel sone dude þe Amyrel {revsc} after ys counseil riȝt. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 21 Whether they haue obserued it [his command] after thye charge or nat. 1535 Coverdale John xix. 7 After our lawe he ought to dye. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas i. vii. (1641) 63/1 In his Name, beg boldly what we need (After his will). 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. ii. iv. i. (1651) 536 To make good musick of their own voices, and dance after it. |
b. In compliance with the wishes of.
| c 1386 Chaucer Wyf of B. 406 And eek I pray to Jhesus schort her lyves, That wil nought be governed after her wyves [6– text bi]. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 209 Pylate, do after us, And dam to deth Jesus. |
† c. In accordance with the statements of; according to (an author). Obs. or ? arch.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 230/4 She bad that the passyon after luke shold be redde. 1586 Cogan Haven of Health (1636) 30 Oates, after Galen, have like nature as Barlie. 1601 Holland tr. Pliny's Hist. World vii. lvi. 188 Anacharsis the Scythian, or after some, Hyperbios the Corinthian, invented the cast of turning the roundell or globe. |
13. In accordance with, according to a custom, wont, fashion, manner, kind, sort, example, pattern.
| a 1000 Cædmon Gen. (Grein) 396 He hæfþ mon ᵹeworhtne æfter his onl{iacu}cnesse. c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 1652 And kiste hire aftre kindes wune. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour K iij, To be charytable after thexemplary of our Lady. 1528 Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. 47 I. 90 After a homely and familiar manner. 1577 St. Aug. Manuell 73 Looke after what sort thou showest thy self towards God. 1647 May Hist. Parl. ii. ii. 34 Their..cause lay bleeding in Ireland after so deplorable a kinde. 1668 Culpeper & Cole tr. Barthol. Anat. i. viii. 17 The lower point of the Call is round after a sort. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 193 ¶3 The levée of a great man is laid after the same manner. 1855 Dickens Dorrit i. 1 Handsome after its kind. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 292 The oath of office was administered after the Scotch fashion. 1866 H. Lee Silver Age 380 Typifying, after a fashion, the make-shift perilous way. 1871 Smiles Character iii. (1876) 74 Companionship after a sort. 1879 Carpenter Ment. Physiol. i. ii. §82. 85 To build after one particular pattern. |
b. ellipt. After the nature of; according to.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John viii. 15 Ȝe demað æfter flǽsce. c 1200 Ormul. Ded. 2 Nu broþerr Wallterr, broþerr min Affterr þe flæshess kinde. 1382 Wyclif Rom. viii. 1 Þat not aftir the fleisch wandren but after the spirit. 1534 Tindale ibid., Which walke not after the flesshe, but after the sprete. [1588 Rheims according to the flesh.] 1611 ibid., Who walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T. Matt. i. 1 His reputed Legal Father after the flesh. 1882 G. Smith in Gd. Wds. Mar. 212 A man after his own heart. |
14. After the manner of; in imitation of; like.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 5418 More hy than olyfaunz. Blake heueded after a palfray. c 1400 Destr. Troy v. 1613 Tilde vpon Tiber after Troy like. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour b viij, That she be arayed after the good ladyes of the countre. c 1570 Thynne Pride & Lowl. (1841) 30 And [they] were clothed after citizens. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 228 ¶4, I must..copy after an old Almanack which I have by me. 1795 Gibbon Autobiog. 74 After his oracle Dr. Johnson, my friend..denies all original genius. 1839 Hallam Hist. Lit. III. iii. v. §17. 240 Some are said to dress after a lady for whom nature has done more than for themselves. |
b. To name after.
| 1297 R. Glouc. 61 Juli the emperour..Hadde afteir hym y-clepud a moneth in the ȝer. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. iv. 9 And Corin called it after his name cornewayle. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 491 A succession of bands designated, as was the fashion of that age, after their leaders. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 190 Whether surnamed after the Hebrew King or not. |
c. To model, draw, compose after.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy xxi. 8758 A meruelous ymage..Amyt after Ector, abill of shap. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) II. 52 Nicholas, the second son..while abroad modelled after the antiques. 1845 A. Jameson Handbk. Publ. Galleries 311 The appearance of being engraved after a drawing by Giulio Romano. Ibid. 313 Venus and Cupid..a copy after Titian. 1850 ― Sacr. & Leg. Art. 1 A portfolio of prints after the old masters. a 1884 Mod. (Titles) ‘Wednesday Afternoon’ (after Longfellow). ‘Jubilate’ (after the mediæval Latin hymns). |
15. In a manner answering to, proportionate to, befitting, suiting. arch.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. i. 25 God ᵹeworhte þære eorðan deor æfter hira h{iacu}wum. c 1230 Ancren Riwle 126 Ase dude þe lefdi Iudit, efter hire efne. 1391 Chaucer Astrol. (1560) 251/2 All the Sterres of the South arisen after the degree of her longitude. c 1460 Fortescue Absol. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 49 The..charge..schal be more or less, after their long or schorte abode. 1549 Latimer 7 Serm. bef. Edw. VI (1869) 51 Cut thy cloth after the mesure. 1611 Bible Ps. xxviii. 4 Giue them after the worke of their handes. [Wyclif aftir ther werkis.] a 1626 Bacon (J.) According to bulk and currency and not after their intrinsick value. 1714 T. Ellwood Hist. his Life (1765) 234 We followed after our own Pace. |
16. At the rate of (obs.); at (the rate of).
| 1530 A proper Dyaloge (1863) 15 Oure clargye lyue nothynge after their rate. 1587 Harrison England ii. i. (1877) 24 If these paie after foure shillings for land, the cleargie contribute commonlie after six shillings of the pound. 1642 Lanc. Tracts of Civ. War (1844) 62 To be repayed with satisfaction after eight pounds per Cent. 1643 Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 94 Have their pay after 6 shillings a week. 1702 Lond. Gaz. mmmdcccxxi/8 After the Rate of 12s. per Gallon. 1882 Charter-party, On being paid Freight at and after the rate of—shillings sterling per ton. |
C. conj. or conjunctive adv. (elliptically from prep.).
1. Of time: † a. with antecedent and relative. Obs.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 32 æfter þam þe ic of deaþe arise. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 51 Efter þan þet þe mon bið dead. c 1200 Ormul. 7667 Affterr þatt tatt he wass dæd. |
b. with relative particle only. arch.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke ii. 22 And æfter ðon gefylled were daᵹas clænsunᵹes his..lædon hine in Hierusalem. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 139 Efter þet ure drihten hefde þet folc adreint. c 1297 R. Glouc. 230 After that Saxons and Englysse verst come thys lond to. 1382 Wyclif Jer. xxxvi. 27 After that the king hadde brent the volum. 1535 Coverdale ibid., After now that the kynge had brente the boke. 1611 ibid., After that the king had burnt the roule. 1880 Lewis & Short Lat. Dict., Postquam, after that, after. |
c. simply.
| c 1360 Wyclif De Dot. Eccl. 22 Aftir he hadde take þe hooli Goost. 1366 Mandeville 174 After thei han slayn them. 1526 Tindale Matt. xxvi. 32 After I am rysen ageyne. [Wyclif After that I schal rise aȝen.] 1611 ibid., After I am risen againe. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 31 Efter we knaw the law maker, we may rewerence him ye mair. 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) I. v. lxv. 298 After the Portuguese had settled themselves in East India. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 10 A few days after the Revolution had been accomplished. |
† 2. Of manner: According as. Obs. a. with antecedent and relative.
| c 1200 Moral Ode 358 Sume habbed more after þan þe hi dude her. |
b. with relative particle (that or as).
| c 1375 Lay-Folks Mass-Bk. B. 8 After þat (þo boke) tellis. c 1394 P.P. Crede 732 But after þat his wynnynge is · is his well-fare. 1426 Audelay Poems 18 Uche preson schuld have his part after that he had ned. 1464–6 Marg. Paston in Lett. 52. IV. 196 It is solde rythe well aftyr þat the wole was. 1506 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de Worde) ii. ix. 112 After as saynt Gregory sayth. 1587 Golding De Mornay xiv. 201 After as any of these three powers doe reigne and beare sway. |
c. simply.
| c 1440 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867) 7 Ilke cristene mane awe..to take efter his elde es. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour d iiij b, Bere honoure..to euery one after he is worthy. 1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) I. 22 Every knight after he was of prowess. |
D. Phr. at after. (Still used in the north.)
1. prep. Used where we should now use after alone, to indicate, time when. (The after may in some cases belong to the n. following; cf. afternoon.)
| 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 294 At after souper goth this noble king To seen this hors of bras. 1521 Bradshaw St. Werburge (1848) 95 At after matyns she vsed contemplacyon. Ibid. 193 On saynt Katharins day at after mydnyght. 1523 Fitzherbert Husbandry (1534) D ij b, Lode oute his dounge before none, and lode heye or corne at after none. |
2. adv. Afterwards.
| a 1641 Strafford Let. in Southey C. Pl. Bk. (1849) II. 172 Let shame cover me at after as a cloak. |
▪ II. after, a.
(ˈɑːftə(r), æ-)
[OE. þæt æfter-e, f. æfter adv., = OHG. aftar, MHG. after; with superl. OE. æftemest, Goth. aftuma and aftumists. Senses 1, 2 are distinctly the OE. adj.; in the rest there is probably a later adjectival or quasi-adjectival use of the adv.; in expressions like after deeds it is especially difficult to distinguish the adj. and adv.]
I. Of time.
† 1. The second (of two). Obs.
| a 855 O.E. Chron. an. 827 Se æftera [Bretwalda] wæs Ceawlin Wesseaxna cyning. c 885 K. ælfred Boeth. xix, Þam þe se æfterra deaþ ᵹegripþ. 1048 O.E. Chron., Neh ðære æftre Sancte Marie mæssan. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 95 On his efter tocome [= second advent], þet is on domes deie. |
2. Next, following.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xiii. 33 Þy æfteran dæᵹe. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. ibid., Þy æftere daiᵹe. 1801 Southey Thalaba x. xv. Wks. IV. 361 Thou shalt not go to-morrow, Nor on the after, nor the after day, Nor ever! 1850 Tennyson In Mem. cii. 158, I dream'd a vision of the dead, Which left my after morn content. |
3. By extension: Later, subsequent. a. with time, hours, days, years, ages, etc. (where it may be explained as ellipt. for after-coming). Frequently united to its n. by the hyphen, which has here only a syntactical value. See also after- in comb.
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 293 Which after houres giues leysure to repent. 1641 Termes de la Ley 138 Any other after Tenant of the land. 1710 Prideaux Orig. Tithes v. 268 The after Lawyers whose hands it passed thorough. 1731 Swift Cass. & Pet. Wks. (1755) IV. i. 164 These rhimes, A monument to after times. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. iii. 54 The name was handed on to after ages. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. iv. 175 The well-known duchy of after times. |
b. with n. of action or state (where it may be explained as the adv. modifying the contained vb. or adj., as after compliance = a complying afterwards). See after- in comb. 7–9.
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. ii. 43 The maine Point of this our after-meeting. 1758 S. Hayward Serm. 17 All his after sins were charged on himself alone. 1831 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 416 The sabrers, that produced an after compliance with their mandates. 1837 Lytton Athens I. 368 These exploits were the foundation of his after-greatness. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. cxvi. 4 For fuller gain of after bliss. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exped. viii. (1856) 59 Confirmed in our own after experience. |
II. Of place.
4. Nearer the rear, hinder, posterior. Chiefly Naut., and probably due to aft (of which perh. regarded as the compar. = more aft): Lying nearer the stern of the ship, of or belonging to the sternward part. In numerous collocations, as after body, cabin, end, guns, ladder, masts, part, quarter, sails, timbers, yards, etc., which are frequently united by the hyphen. See after- in comb. 4.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 199 Ure left eare we ditteð mid ure after ende. 1440 Promp. Parv., Aftyr Parte of a beste, or the hyndyr parte or the crowpe, Clunis. Aftyr Parte, or hynder parte of the schyppe, Puppis. 1795 Nelson in Nicolas Disp. II. 13, I ordered the driver and after sails to be braced up. 1837 Marryat Perc. Keene xl. (1863) 281, I..contrived to gain the after ladder and descend. 1857 Livingstone S. Africa iv. 80 The after part of the body has three or four yellow bars. 1879 W. H. White in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 78/2 Supposing a leak to occur in the after portion of the vessel. |
III. absol. That which follows, subsequent time or existence; the future. Also, the rear or latter part.
| 1650 B. Discolliminium 49 He would..turne so nimbly that he could not see which was his 'fore, which his after. 1830 Tennyson Poems 98 He hath felt The vanities of after and before. 1865 Reader 10 June 644/3 A range of view which takes in all the before and after of Greek thought. 1903 W. S. Blunt 7 Golden Odes 39 Who knows to-morrow, who the after of days, the years we see not? 1937 P. J. McCann St. Benedict 10 We can place his life and work in the sequence of a continuous development, and estimate it with reference to a before and an after. |
▪ III. after
colloq. abbrev. of afternoon.
| 1890–1934 in Wentworth Amer. Dial. Dict. (1944) 9/1. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands viii. 104 Iv yeh don't do yer fair share iv yacker this after, I'll punt ther slacks off yer. 1934 J. O'Hara Appt. in Samarra (1935) ii. 50 Tonight, or this after', when Ed showed up at the Apollo, he probably would be in a bad humour. 1939 J. Mulgan Man Alone xviii. 235 Boss wants us to get the hay in up top this after. |