■ preposition & adverb
1》 at or to the further side of.
↘more extensive or extreme than.
2》 happening or continuing after.
3》 having reached or progressed further than (a specified level or amount).
4》 to or in a degree where a specified action is impossible.
↘too advanced for.
5》 [with negative ] apart from; except.
■ noun ( the ~ ) the unknown, especially in references to life after death.
Origin
OE begeondan , from be 'by' + geondan , of Gmc origin.