He passed week after week in clambering the mountains. JOHNSON Rasselas ch. 5, p. 27. It was the custom, too, of these devout vagabonds, after leav ing the chapel, to have a grand carouse. IRVING Astoria ch. 13, p. 126. After night day comes, and after turmoil peace. EDWIN ARNOLD Light of Asia bk. v, st. 8. 3. Subsequently to and because of; because of; as the result of; as, after this explanation, one can not help understanding. Dawson, after his announcement of the animal nature of the Eozoon, suggested the name Eozoic. DANA Geology pt. iii, p. 148. After he had received the honor of knighthood from his sovereign, he assumed the heraldic device of three wiverns. AGNES STRICKLAND Queens of Eng., Elizabeth in vol. iii, ch. 8, p. 328. 4. Subsequently to, and in spite of; in spite of; notwithstanding; as, after the best endeavors, one may fail; after all concessions, reconciliation proved impossible: hence the phrase after all, equivalent to when everything has been done, considered, or the like; as, they failed after all. For, after all, the object of religion is conversion, and to change people's behaviour. MATTHEW ARNOLD Last Essays, Bishop Butler p. 92. III. In derived or metaphorical use: 1. Behind or below in place or rank; inferior to. What can the man do that cometh after the king? Eccl. ii, 12. 'I am content,' he answered, 'to be loved a little after Enoch.' TENNYSON Enoch Arden st. 29, 1. 425. 2. Pressing or tending toward; in search or pursuit of; in quest of; seeking or striving for; for: an extension of the idea of following in place; as, to strive after wisdom. [As after with verbs of movement intimates in general the tendency of pressing to an object, it is associated with notions of an activity, substantives, etc., in connection with objects towards In answer to Philip's desire to behold a theophany after the manner of the Old Testament, Jesus said, 'He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.' J. P. THOMPSON Theology of Christ ch. 11, p. 147. At least we might have a betrothment after the royal fashion. 5. For the sake of; in remembrance or observance of; by the name of; as, the boy was named after Lincoln. Our eldest son was named George after his uncle. GOLDSMITH Vicar of Wakefield ch. 1, p. 36. 6. In relation to; about; concerning; as, to look after my affairs; to inquire after one's health. Take heed to thyself. gods. that thou inquire not after their Verbs and Other Antecedents Deut. xii, 30. [As after with verbs of movement intimates in general the tendency of pressing to an object, it is associated with notions of an activity, substantives, etc., in connection with objects towards which a striving or desire is directed. In this manner it stands with such notions as seek, search, ask, call, listen, hunt, endeavor, gape, hunger, thirst, and others, so that after frequently coincides in effect with for. MAETZNER English Grammar vol. ii, p. 445.] After-behind: Distinctions [In a local meaning, after, in partial distinction from behind, is not so much used of the quiet abiding in the rear of an object as to suppose a progressive or striving movement in which although not absolutely there lies the tendency to press on to an object, and which is rarely conceived in its result. MAETZNER English Grammar vol. ii, p. 445.] Thus, to follow behind would be tautological, since follow includes the meaning of behind; but to follow after is in approved use, since after adds the idea of seeking to overtake. So strong is this implication that it is felt in connection even with the neuter verb be, as when one says, "I am after you." After-for: After and for are in certain uses equivalent and used interchangeably. One may be said to be named after or for Lincoln; one may seek after fame or seek for it. The fact that after carries the sense of seeking, reaching toward, or caring for (probably from the following or pursuing after something desired) disposes of the objection that of course one is named after any one who lived before him. After has other references than that to time, signifying according to, in behalf of, etc. In behalf of or for the sake of one loved or honored, we give a child or a place his name, thus naming the person or place after (in behalf of) him. [After-for are often used interchangeably, especially after words expressing desire, striving, search, etc. To thirst after truth or for truth, to search after, or for knowledge, hunt after, or for riches, strive after, or for fame, eager for, or after position. FALLOWS 100,000 Synonyms and Antonyms.] After-since: After excludes while since includes reference to the present time. The statement "After the battle of Marathon the Greeks no longer feared the Persians" puts the whole matter far from the present. Greeks and Persians ceased to be competitors centuries ago. But the statement "Since the Reformation the principles of religious liberty have steadily advanced" brings the advance up to to-day. "After my departure I heard nothing from him" puts all expectancy or likelihood of hearing far into the past. It is so we should speak of one long dead. But "Since my departure I have heard nothing" keeps expectancy and possibility open to the very moment of utterance. IV-Prepositions Defined and Illustrated AGAINST Against is derived from the Middle English againest, from again plus the adverbial ending -es plus the intensive ending -t, the idea of being opposite or opposed underlying all the meanings both of the adverb again and of the preposition against. I. Of place or space: in a direct line toward; opposite to. 1. Of position: (a) directly opposite; facing; in front of: often preceded by over; as, against the background of the sky; over against the temple. Go into the village over against you. Matt. xxi, 2. The ships' masts standing row by row MORRIS Jason bk. ix, st. 18. High in the topmost zenith a central spark, A luminous cloud that glow'd against the dark. E. C. STEDMAN Alice of Monmouth div. xx, st. 4. Above, against the clouds of twilight, ghostly on the gray Against the sheer, precipitous mountain-side ALDRICH Thorwaldsen 1. 6. (b) In contact with and pressing upon; bearing upon; as, to lean against a wall. We fended the canoes off the sides, and assisted our progress by pushing against the rocks. BAKER in Bayard Taylor's Lake Regions Cent. Afr. ch. 24, p. 377. Putting his feet, now, against the wall, so as to get a good purchase, and pushing, the trunk, with much difficulty, was POE Tales, Von Kempelen in first series, p. 107 slid out. ... |