after

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English æfter; akin to Old High German aftar after, and probably to Old English of of Date: before 12th century following in time or place ; afterward, behind, later <

we arrived shortly after

> <

returned 20 years after

> II. preposition Date: before 12th century 1. a. behind in place <

people lined up one after another

> b. (1) subsequent to in time or order <

20 minutes after 6

> (2) subsequent to and in view of <

after all our advice

> 2. — used as a function word to indicate the object of a stated or implied action <

go after gold

> <

was asking after you

> 3. so as to resemble: as a. in accordance with b. with the name of or a name derived from that of <

named after his father

> c. in the characteristic manner of ; in imitation of <

writing after the manner of Hemingway

> III. conjunction Date: before 12th century subsequently to the time when <

we will come after we make plans

> IV. adjective Date: before 12th century 1. later in time <

in after years

> 2. located toward the rear and especially toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft V. verbal auxiliary Date: 1792 chiefly Irish — used with a present participle to indicate action completed and especially just completed <

the poor old man is after dying on me — J. M. Synge

> VI. noun Date: circa 1902 afternoon