Where does “afterthought” come from?
Afterthought is a compound of English after and English thought, from Old English æfter and Old English þōht, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European apotero and teng-.
afterthought (English): A reflection after an act; a later or subsequent...
Definitions
- A reflection after an act; a later or subsequent...
Ancestry of “afterthought”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | after- | With contrary, subordinate, or remote effect;... |
| 2 | Old English | æfter- | after, behind; afterward; for, for the sake or... |
| 3 | Old English | æfter | after; according to |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *aftar | after, behind |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | after | after, behind |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂epoteros | further behind, further away |