after

a. [ AS. æfter after, behind; akin to Goth. aftaro, aftra, backwards, Icel. aptr, Sw. and Dan. efter, OHG. aftar behind, Dutch and LG. achter, Gr. 'apwte`rw further off. The ending -ter is an old comparative suffix, in E. generally -ther (as in other), and after is a compar. of of, off. √194. See Of; cf. Aft. ] 1. Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period of life. Marshall. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense the word is sometimes needlessly combined with the following noun, by means of a hyphen, as, after-ages, after-act, after-days, after-life. For the most part the words are properly kept separate when after has this meaning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hinder; nearer the rear. (Naut.) To ward the stern of the ship; -- applied to any object in the rear part of a vessel; as the after cabin, after hatchway. It is often combined with its noun; as, after-bowlines, after-braces, after-sails, after-yards, those on the mainmasts and mizzenmasts. [ 1913 Webster ]

After body (Naut.), the part of a ship abaft the dead flat, or middle part. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he follows after. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was about the space of three hours after. Acts. v. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but retaining its usual signification. The prefix may be adverbial, prepositional, or adjectival; as in after- described, after-dinner, after-part. The hyphen is sometimes needlessly used to connect the adjective after with its noun. See Note under After, a., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) The placenta and membranes with which the fetus is connected, when they are expelled from the womb after delivery. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

n. A throw of dice after the game in ended; hence, anything done too late. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A second crop or harvest in the same year. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

An irrespirable gas, remaining after an explosion of fire damp in mines; choke damp. See Carbonic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The time just after dinner. “An after-dinner's sleep.” Shak. [ Obs. ] -- a. Following dinner; post-prandial; as, an after-dinner nap. [ 1913 Webster ]