afterthought en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈæft.ɚ.θɔt/ (US)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros Proto-Germanic *after Old English æfter Middle English after English after ▲ Old English æfter Old English æfter- Middle English after- English after- Proto-Indo-European *teng-der. Proto-Germanic *þankijaną Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht Old English þōht Middle English thought English thought English afterthought From after- + thought, probably modelled on forethought. Compare also the verb afterthink.
Meanings
-
A reflection after an act; a later or subsequent thought, action, or expedient.
She packed her sandals only as an afterthought, but she was glad she did.
-
Something additional to the original plan or concept.
This whole remodeling was an afterthought; we were only going to paint and call it good.
The lighting in the corridor just dabbles of arcs, afterthoughts, smears. The light a grime that gives him a slight headache. The same type as when it has rained, remained humid, a fetid stale of ozone over everything.
2007, Constantine Sult, chapter 1, in The Murder of Linen, [United States]: Brown Paper Publishing, page 1:For most of the past three decades, the natural world was treated almost as an afterthought by world leaders. If discussed at all, it was with platitudes about the need to save polar bears and tigers.
2019 August 30, Jonathan Watts, “Amazon fires show world heading for point of no return, says UN”, in The Guardian:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| afterthoughts | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (19)
de Nachgedanke (a subsequent thought) · gd ath-smuain (a subsequent thought) · de Nebengedanke (a subsequent thought) · de Nachlese (a subsequent thought) · de Manöverkritik (a subsequent thought) · mi whakaaro taka noa (a subsequent thought) · ru запозда́лое разду́мье (a subsequent thought) · gd ath-smuain (something additional) · es idea tarda (something additional) · de Nachbetrachtung (a subsequent thought) · de Nachtrag (something additional) · es idea tardía (a subsequent thought) · ru запозда́лая мысль (a subsequent thought) · ru запозда́лая мысль (something additional) · gd ath-bheachd (a subsequent thought) · es coletilla (a subsequent thought) · de Zusätzlichkeit (something additional) · gd ath-bheachd (something additional) · es ocurrencia tardía (something additional)