After

After Aft"er ([.a]ft"t[~e]r), a. [AS. [ae]fter 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. [root]194. See {Of}; cf. {Aft}.] 1. Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period of life. --Marshall. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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.

Note: 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]