[af.ter] adv [ME, fr. OE aefter; akin to OHG aftar after, and prob. to OE of of] (bef. 12c): following in time or place: afterward, behind, later "we arrived shortly ~" "returned 20 years ~"
[2]after prep (bef. 12c) 1 a: behind in place b (1): subsequent to in time or order (2): subsequent to and in view of "~ all our advice" 2--used as a function word to indicate the object of a stated or implied action "go ~ gold" "was asking ~ you"
3: so as to resemble: as a: in accordance with b: with the name of or a name derived from that of c: in the characteristic manner of d: in imitation of [3]after conj (bef. 12c): subsequently to the time when [4]after adj (bef. 12c) 1: later in time "in ~ years"
2: located toward the rear and esp. toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft [5]af.ter verbal auxiliary (1800) chiefly Irish--used with a present participle to indicate action completed and esp. just completed "the poor old man is ~ dying on me --J. M. Synge" [6]after n (ca. 1902): afternoon