1. [adv]  happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here later"; "it didn't happen until afterward"; "two hours after that"
2. [adv]  behind or in the rear; "and Jill came tumbling after"

AFTER is a 5 letter word that starts with A.

1. \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.
   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.
   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.
   {After body} (Naut.), the part of a ship abaft the dead flat,
      or middle part.
   

2. \Aft"er\, prep.
   1. Behind in place; as, men in line one after another. ``Shut
      doors after you.'' --Shak.
   2. Below in rank; next to in order. --Shak.
            Codrus after Ph?bus sings the best.   --Dryden.
   3. Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three
      days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was
      interposed between it and the clause.
            After I am risen again, I will go before you into
            Galilee.                              --Matt. xxvi.
                                                  32.
   4. Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you
      have said, I shall be careful.
   5. Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our
      advice, you took that course.
   6. Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in
      pursuit of.
            Ye shall not go after other gods.     --Deut. vi.
                                                  14.
            After whom is the king of Israel come out? --1 Sam.
                                                  xxiv. 14.
   7. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to;
      as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to
      thirst after righteousness.
   8. In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of;
      as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens;
      the boy takes after his father.
   {To name} or {call after}, to name like and reference to.
            Our eldest son was named George after his uncle.
                                                  --Goldsmith.
   9. According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the
      nature of; as, he acted after his kind.
            He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes.
                                                  --Isa. xi. 3.
            They that are after the flesh do mind the things of
            the flesh.                            --Rom. viii.
                                                  5.
   10. According to the direction and influence of; in
       proportion to; befitting. [Archaic]
             He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk
             and currency, and not after their intrinsic value.
                                                  --Bacon.
   {After all}, when everything has been considered; upon the
      whole.
   {After} (with the same noun preceding and following), as,
      wave after wave, day after day, several or many (waves,
      etc.) successively.
   {One after another}, successively.
   {To be after}, to be in pursuit of in order to reach or get;
      as, he is after money.
   

3. \Aft"er\, adv.
   Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he
   follows after.
         It was about the space of three hours after. --Acts. v.
                                                  7.
   Note: After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but
         retaining its usual signification. The prefix may be
         adverbial, prepositional, or adjectival; as in after-
         described, after-dinner, after-part. The hyphen is
         sometimes needlessly used to connect the adjective
         after with its noun. See {Note} under {After}, a., 1.