Word: after Part of Speech: prep Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros Proto-Germanic *after Old English æfter Middle English after English after From Middle English after, from Old English æfter, from Proto-West Germanic *aftar, from Proto-Germanic *after, *aftiri, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epoteros (“further behind, further away”), from *h₂epo (“off, away”). Cognate with Scots efter (“after”), North Frisian efter (“after, behind”), West Frisian after, achter, efter (“behind; after”), Low German and Dutch achter (“behind”), German after- (“after-”), Danish and Swedish efter (“after”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk etter (“after”), Faroese and Icelandic eftir (“after”). The Irish usage to indicate recent completion of an activity is a calque of the Irish collocation Táim tar éis... (“I have just...”, literally “I am after...”). Pronunciation: /ˈɑːftə/, /ˈaftə(ɹ)/, /ˈæftəɹ/, [ˈäftɚ], /ˈɐːftə/ 1. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Example: We had a few beers after the game. Example: The time is a quarter after eight. 2. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Example: After your bad behaviour, you will be punished. 3. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Example: I’m not putting you in charge again after the last disaster. 4. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Example: After all that has happened, he is still my friend. Example: I can’t believe that, after all our advice against gambling, you walked into that casino! 5. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Labels: often Example: I'm tired of picking up after you. Why can't you clean your own messes? 6. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Example: day after day, time after time, mile after mile, beer after beer, smile after smile Example: Paper after paper spells out how vulnerable we are to internet-induced brain rot. 7. Subsequently to; following in time; later than. Labels: Ireland, Newfoundland Example: I was after finishing my dinner when there was a knock on the door. [= I had just finished my dinner when ...] Example: He was after walking on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before, all the way from the County Limerick, where his brother, Father John, has a parish; and you may believe, the poor man was tired 8. Behind. Example: He will leave a trail of destruction after him. Example: I told her to shut the door after her. 9. In pursuit of, seeking. Example: He’s after a job; run after him; inquire after her health. 10. In allusion to, in imitation of; following or referencing. Example: We named him after his grandfather. Example: This painting is after Leonardo da Vinci. 11. Below, often next below, in importance or rank. Example: The princess is next in line to the throne after the prince. 12. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to. Example: to look after workmen; to enquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness 13. According to (an author or text). Labels: obsolete 14. According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. Labels: obsolete Example: He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value.