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 ]

prep. 1. Behind in place; as, men in line one after another. “Shut doors after you.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Below in rank; next to in order. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Codrus after Ph&unr_;bus sings the best. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause. [ 1913 Webster ]

After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt. xxvi. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said, I shall be careful. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you took that course. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall not go after other gods. Deut. vi. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

After whom is the king of Israel come out? 1 Sam. xxiv. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes after his father. [ 1913 Webster ]

To name or
call after, to name like and reference to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our eldest son was named George after his uncle. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature of; as, he acted after his kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. Isa. xi. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. Rom. viii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and not after their intrinsic value. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

After all, when everything has been considered; upon the whole. --
After (with the same noun preceding and following), as, wave after wave, day after day, several or many (waves, etc.) successively. --
One after another, successively. --
To be after, to be in pursuit of in order to reach or get; as, he is after money. [ 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 ]

n. Aftergrass. [ 1913 Webster ]