afterthought
/ˈæft.ɚ.θɔt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.88 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A reflection after an act; a later or subsequent thought, action, or expedient.
noun
Something additional to the original plan or concept.
verb
To expound as an afterthought.
verb
simple past and past participle of afterthink
Example Sentences
- "She packed her sandals only as an afterthought, but she was glad she did."
- "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."
- "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."
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.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈæft.ɚ.θɔt/