After-

prefix

prefix ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Prefix
  1. 1
    With contrary, subordinate, or remote effect, denoting hindrance, setback, inferiority, etc. idiomatic, morpheme, rare

    "after- + deal → afterdeal"

  2. 2
    With adverbial or adjectival effect, forming compound words indicating something that comes afterwards in spacial position. morpheme

    "after- + deck → afterdeck"

  3. 3
    With prepositional effect, forming compound words denoting something which follows the second element of the compound, and is less intense or significant. morpheme

    "after- + glow → afterglow"

  4. 4
    With prepositional effect, forming compound words denoting follows and is a result of the second element of the compound. morpheme

    "after- + birth → afterbirth"

Synonyms

All synonyms
post

Example

More examples

"after- + thought → afterthought"

Etymology

From after (adverb and preposition), and also continuing Middle English after-, efter-, æfter-, from Old English æfter- (“after, behind, against”). Cognate with Scots efter-, West Frisian efter-, Dutch achter-, German after-, Swedish efter-. More at after.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.