thereafter

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English therafter, theraftir, þerefter, þerafter, þeræfter, from Old English þǣræfter (“after that; thereafter”), equivalent to there +‎ after. Cognate with Saterland Frisian deerätter (“thereafter”), West Frisian dêrefter (“behind that; thereafter”), Dutch daarachter (“behind that; thereafter”), German Low German daarachter (“behind that”), Danish derefter (“thereafter”), Swedish därefter (“thereafter”).

Pronunciation

Adverb

thereafter (not comparable)

  1. After that, from then on; thenceforth.
    He left; thereafter we never met again.
    • 1899, John Buchan, No Man's Land:
      The Lent term had pulled me down, a week of modest enjoyment thereafter in town had finished the work; and I drank in the sharp moorish air like a thirsty man who has been forwandered among deserts.
    • 1900, L. Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:
      "My third command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda, "shall be to carry you to your forest. Then, having used up the powers of the Golden Cap, I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys, that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore."

Coordinate terms

Translations

Noun

thereafter (countable and uncountable, plural thereafters)

  1. (uncommon) Synonym of hereafter (“future existence or state”).
  2. (poetic, uncommon) Synonym of hereafter (“existence after death”).
    • 2022, Jody Enders, Immaculate Deception and Further Ribaldries, →ISBN, page 243:
      A mimed sequence might enliven Johnny's visit to the great thereafter; or the battle royal might be painted on a backdrop.

See also

Here-, there-, and where- words
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Boobota
Sagapedia