Welcome to Lesson 56 of the Latinum Institute’s Elizabethan English course. This lesson focuses on after, a preposition expressing temporal sequence (following in time) or spatial arrangement (following behind). In Early Modern English, after functions identically to its modern counterpart, but appears frequently in constructions now archaic, such as “after the manner of” meaning “in the style of.”
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Frequently Asked Question: What does “after” mean in Elizabethan English?
In Elizabethan English, after (pronounced /ˈɑːf.tər/ with a clear, rhotic final /r/) functions as a preposition indicating: (1) following in time—”after supper”; (2) following in place or order—”after the king came the nobles”; (3) in pursuit of—”to run after”; (4) in imitation of—”after the Italian fashion”; (5) concerning or about—”to inquire after someone’s health.”
Pronunciation Note on Period Norms
Early Modern English preserves several features lost in modern Received Pronunciation. The final /-r/ in after was fully articulated. Suffixes like -tion were pronounced /tjʊn/ rather than modern /ʃən/, so fashion sounded /ˈfæ.ʃi.ən/ but mention retained /ˈmen.tjʊn/. Long vowels were still undergoing the Great Vowel Shift, giving words like time a pronunciation closer to /tɛɪm/ and name closer to /næːm/.
Key Takeaways -
After governs the objective case when preceding pronouns: “after him,” “after me” -
In temporal constructions, after frequently pairs with noun phrases denoting events: “after the battle,” “after dinner” -
The construction “after that” often introduces subordinate clauses of time -
Elizabethan texts use after in the now-archaic sense of “according to” or “in pursuit of” -
The word derives from Old English æfter, cognate with Gothic aftaro
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1.1a After supper we shall have music.
1.1b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following supper /ˈsʌp.ər/ evening-meal we /weː/ 1PL.NOM shall /ʃæl/ FUT.AUX have /hæv/ possess music /ˈmjuː.zɪk/ melodious-entertainment
1.2a The fool came running after his master.
1.2b The /ðə/ DEF.ART fool /fuːl/ jester came /kæːm/ PAST.come running /ˈrʌn.ɪŋ/ PRES.PART after /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-pursuit-of his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS master /ˈmɑːs.tər/ lord
1.3a I shall follow after thee.
1.3b I /ɪː/ 1SG.NOM shall /ʃæl/ FUT.AUX follow /ˈfɒl.oː/ pursue after /ˈɑːf.tər/ behind thee /ðeː/ 2SG.OBJ.FAMILIAR
1.4a After this fashion did he speak.
1.4b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ according-to this /ðɪs/ DEM.PROX fashion /ˈfæ.ʃi.ən/ manner did /dɪd/ PAST.AUX he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM speak /speːk/ utter-words
1.5a She inquired after my health.
1.5b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM inquired /ɪnˈkwɛɪrd/ asked after /ˈɑːf.tər/ concerning my /mɛɪ/ 1SG.POSS health /hɛlθ/ bodily-condition
1.6a After the manner of the ancients he wrought his verse.
1.6b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-imitation-of the /ðə/ DEF.ART manner /ˈmæn.ər/ style of /ɒv/ belonging-to the /ðə/ DEF.ART ancients /ˈæn.ʃənts/ classical-writers he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM wrought /rɔːt/ PAST.work his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS verse /vɛrs/ poetry
1.7a What seekest thou after?
1.7b What /hwɑːt/ INTERROG.what seekest /ˈseːk.əst/ 2SG.PRES.seek thou /ðaʊ/ 2SG.NOM.FAMILIAR after /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-pursuit-of
1.8a After the tempest cometh calm.
1.8b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following the /ðə/ DEF.ART tempest /ˈtɛm.pəst/ violent-storm cometh /ˈkʌm.əθ/ 3SG.PRES.come calm /kɑːm/ tranquility
1.9a The prince entered after all the nobles had assembled.
1.9b The /ðə/ DEF.ART prince /prɪns/ royal-heir entered /ˈɛn.tərd/ PAST.enter after /ˈɑːf.tər/ subsequent-to all /ɔːl/ every the /ðə/ DEF.ART nobles /ˈnoː.bəlz/ aristocrats had /hæd/ PAST.PERF.AUX assembled /əˈsɛm.bəld/ PAST.PART.gather
1.10a Day after day he laboured in the field.
1.10b Day /dæɪ/ solar-period after /ˈɑːf.tər/ following day /dæɪ/ solar-period he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM laboured /ˈlæɪ.bərd/ PAST.toil in /ɪn/ within the /ðə/ DEF.ART field /fiːld/ cultivated-land
1.11a They named the child after his grandfather.
1.11b They /ðæɪ/ 3PL.NOM named /næːmd/ PAST.call the /ðə/ DEF.ART child /tʃɛɪld/ young-one after /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-honour-of his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS grandfather /ˈgrænd.fɑː.ðər/ paternal-ancestor
1.12a Look not after her, for she is lost to thee.
1.12b Look /luːk/ gaze not /nɒt/ NEG after /ˈɑːf.tər/ toward her /hər/ 3SG.FEM.OBJ for /fɔːr/ because she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM is /ɪz/ 3SG.PRES.be lost /lɒst/ PAST.PART.lose to /tuː/ unto thee /ðeː/ 2SG.OBJ.FAMILIAR
1.13a After much deliberation the council gave their judgment.
1.13b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following much /mʌtʃ/ great deliberation /dɪ.lɪ.bəˈræɪ.tjʊn/ careful-consideration the /ðə/ DEF.ART council /ˈkaʊn.səl/ assembly gave /gæːv/ PAST.give their /ðɛːr/ 3PL.POSS judgment /ˈdʒʌdʒ.mənt/ decision
1.14a He is a man after mine own heart.
1.14b He /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM is /ɪz/ 3SG.PRES.be a /ə/ INDEF.ART man /mæn/ person after /ˈɑːf.tər/ according-to mine /mɛɪn/ 1SG.POSS.before-vowel own /oːn/ very heart /hɑːrt/ innermost-nature
1.15a Thou shalt not after strange gods go whoring.
1.15b Thou /ðaʊ/ 2SG.NOM.FAMILIAR shalt /ʃælt/ 2SG.FUT.AUX not /nɒt/ NEG after /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-pursuit-of strange /stræɪndʒ/ foreign gods /gɒdz/ deities go /goː/ proceed whoring /ˈhɔːr.ɪŋ/ PRES.PART.commit-idolatry
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1.1 After supper we shall have music. Following the evening meal, entertainment shall commence.
1.2 The fool came running after his master. The jester pursued his lord at a hurried pace.
1.3 I shall follow after thee. I will come behind you in due course.
1.4 After this fashion did he speak. In this manner did he deliver his words.
1.5 She inquired after my health. She asked concerning my bodily condition.
1.6 After the manner of the ancients he wrought his verse. In imitation of classical writers he composed his poetry.
1.7 What seekest thou after? What is it that you pursue?
1.8 After the tempest cometh calm. Following the storm arrives tranquility.
1.9 The prince entered after all the nobles had assembled. The royal heir made entrance subsequent to the gathering of the aristocracy.
1.10 Day after day he laboured in the field. Continuously, one day following another, he toiled upon the land.
1.11 They named the child after his grandfather. The child received his name in honour of his paternal ancestor.
1.12 Look not after her, for she is lost to thee. Do not gaze toward her, for she is beyond your reach.
1.13 After much deliberation the council gave their judgment. Following extensive consideration, the assembly rendered its decision.
1.14 He is a man after mine own heart. He is a person whose nature accords with my deepest sentiments.
1.15 Thou shalt not after strange gods go whoring. You shall not pursue foreign deities in idolatrous devotion.
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1.1 After supper we shall have music.
1.2 The fool came running after his master.
1.3 I shall follow after thee.
1.4 After this fashion did he speak.
1.5 She inquired after my health.
1.6 After the manner of the ancients he wrought his verse.
1.7 What seekest thou after?
1.8 After the tempest cometh calm.
1.9 The prince entered after all the nobles had assembled.
1.10 Day after day he laboured in the field.
1.11 They named the child after his grandfather.
1.12 Look not after her, for she is lost to thee.
1.13 After much deliberation the council gave their judgment.
1.14 He is a man after mine own heart.
1.15 Thou shalt not after strange gods go whoring.
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Etymology and Development
The preposition after descends from Old English æfter, itself from Proto-Germanic *aftaz (behind, following). The word is cognate with Old High German aftar, Old Norse eptir, and Gothic aftaro. The comparative formation suggests an original spatial meaning of “more toward the rear,” which extended to temporal sequence by natural metaphor.
Syntactic Functions in Early Modern English -
Temporal Preposition: After introduces noun phrases or clauses indicating a subsequent time point. “After dinner” places an event following the meal; “after that he had spoken” (with redundant that) introduces a temporal clause. -
Spatial/Sequential Preposition: Denotes physical position or order in a sequence. “To come after” means to follow behind; “first the king, after him the queen” establishes processional order. -
Purposive/Pursuit: After frequently indicates the object of pursuit or desire. “To seek after,” “to lust after,” “to inquire after” all preserve this sense, now somewhat archaic. -
Accordance/Imitation: The construction “after the manner of” or “after the fashion of” indicates conformity to a model or standard.
Verbal Constructions
Many Elizabethan verbs compound idiomatically with after: -
To look after: to care for, or to gaze toward -
To take after: to resemble (a parent or ancestor) -
To inquire after: to ask concerning someone’s condition -
To go after: to pursue -
To name after: to give the name of another person
Pronunciation Particulars
In Early Modern English, after was pronounced /ˈɑːf.tər/ with: -
A long, open back vowel /ɑː/ in the first syllable -
Full articulation of the final /r/ (rhoticity) -
The /t/ clearly pronounced, unlike some modern dialects where it reduces
Words ending in -tion in this period retained the /tjʊn/ pronunciation (palatalisation to /ʃən/ was still developing), so mention sounded /ˈmɛn.tjʊn/, question sounded /ˈkwɛs.tjʊn/, and deliberation sounded /dɪ.lɪ.bəˈræɪ.tjʊn/.
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Biblical Resonance
The King James Bible (1611) employs after extensively in phrases that entered common speech: -
“A man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) — describing one whose nature accords with another’s desires -
“Go not after strange gods” — the prohibition against idolatry -
“After the flesh” versus “after the spirit” — Pauline theology’s distinction between carnal and spiritual orientation
These biblical constructions shaped Elizabethan moral discourse and remain recognizable today.
Theatrical Usage
In Shakespeare and his contemporaries, after appears in stage directions (”Exit, running after him”) and dialogue marking pursuit, sequence, and causation. The word’s flexibility allowed dramatists to compress temporal relationships: “After much ado” condenses an implied duration of struggle into three words.
Social Hierarchy and Sequence
Elizabethan society was profoundly ordered by precedence. The preposition after encoded this hierarchy linguistically: one entered a room “after” one’s social superior; guests were seated “after” their rank; official documents listed names “after” degree of nobility. Understanding after meant understanding one’s place in the cosmic order.
Proverbial Wisdom
Early Modern proverbs exploited after‘s temporal sense: -
“After a storm comes a calm” — consolation in adversity -
“After death, the doctor” — the futility of belated remedy -
“After meat, mustard” — likewise, too late -
“The day after the fair” — missing an opportunity
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From William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I, Scene ii (c. 1600)
Claudius: Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, Th’ imperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as ‘twere with a defeated joy— With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole— Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along. For all, our thanks. Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal of our worth, Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, Colleaguèd with the dream of his advantage, He hath not failed to pester us with message, Importing the surrender of those lands Lost by his father, with all bonds of law, To our most valiant brother. So much for him. Now for ourself and for this time of meeting: Thus much the business is: we have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras, Who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears Of this his nephew’s purpose, to suppress His further gait herein; in that the levies, The lists, and full proportions are all made Out of his subject: and we here dispatch You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand, For bearers of this greeting to old Norway; Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king, more than the scope Of these dilated articles allow.
In this speech, Shakespeare demonstrates the preposition’s role in establishing sequence and causation: Claudius speaks “after” the death of the elder Hamlet, explaining actions taken in temporal succession. The construction “Now follows, that you know” prepares the audience for what comes after the wedding announcement—diplomatic business. Note how after is implicit throughout: the new king rules after his brother’s death; young Fortinbras acts after perceiving Danish weakness.
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The following continuous narrative demonstrates after in theatrical context, written in the manner of Elizabethan chronicle drama.
THE CONSEQUENCE
A chamber in the castle. Night. Enter EDMUND with a letter.
2.1a After the feast had ended, and the guests departed, Edmund sat alone with his dark designs.
2.1b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following the /ðə/ DEF.ART feast /fiːst/ banquet had /hæd/ PAST.PERF.AUX ended /ˈɛn.dɪd/ PAST.PART.conclude and /ænd/ CONJ the /ðə/ DEF.ART guests /gɛsts/ visitors departed /dɪˈpɑːr.tɪd/ PAST.leave Edmund /ˈɛd.mənd/ PROP.NAME sat /sæt/ PAST.sit alone /əˈloːn/ solitary with /wɪθ/ accompanied-by his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS dark /dɑːrk/ sinister designs /dɪˈzɛɪnz/ schemes
2.2a He had waited after his father’s affection all his youth, yet it came not.
2.2b He /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM had /hæd/ PAST.PERF.AUX waited /ˈwæɪ.tɪd/ PAST.PART.await after /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-desire-of his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS father’s /ˈfɑː.ðərz/ paternal.GEN affection /əˈfɛk.tjʊn/ love all /ɔːl/ entire his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS youth /juːθ/ early-years yet /jɛt/ however it /ɪt/ 3SG.NEUT.NOM came /kæːm/ PAST.come not /nɒt/ NEG
2.3a After his brother’s portion he did covet, that portion denied him by law of custom.
2.3b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-desire-of his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS brother’s /ˈbrʌ.ðərz/ sibling.GEN portion /ˈpɔːr.tjʊn/ inheritance he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM did /dɪd/ PAST.AUX covet /ˈkʌ.vɪt/ desire-wrongfully that /ðæt/ DEM.DIST portion /ˈpɔːr.tjʊn/ share denied /dɪˈnɛɪd/ PAST.PART.refuse him /hɪm/ 3SG.MASC.OBJ by /bɛɪ/ through law /lɔː/ statute of /ɒv/ GEN.PREP custom /ˈkʌs.təm/ tradition
2.4a “After this night,” thought he, “all shall be altered.”
2.4b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following this /ðɪs/ DEM.PROX night /nɛɪt/ dark-hours thought /θɔːt/ PAST.think he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM all /ɔːl/ everything shall /ʃæl/ FUT.AUX be /beː/ INFINITIVE.be altered /ˈɔːl.tərd/ PAST.PART.change
2.5a He rose and went after the candle’s guttering light toward the escritoire.
2.5b He /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM rose /roːz/ PAST.rise and /ænd/ CONJ went /wɛnt/ PAST.go after /ˈɑːf.tər/ following the /ðə/ DEF.ART candle’s /ˈkæn.dəlz/ taper.GEN guttering /ˈgʌ.tə.rɪŋ/ flickering light /lɛɪt/ illumination toward /toːrd/ in-direction-of the /ðə/ DEF.ART escritoire /ˌɛs.krɪˈtwɑːr/ writing-desk
2.6a There, after much searching, he found the seal he required.
2.6b There /ðɛːr/ in-that-place after /ˈɑːf.tər/ following much /mʌtʃ/ extensive searching /ˈsɛːr.tʃɪŋ/ PRES.PART.seek he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM found /faʊnd/ PAST.find the /ðə/ DEF.ART seal /siːl/ signet he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM required /rɪˈkwɛɪrd/ PAST.need
2.7a Hour after hour the conspirator laboured at his forgery.
2.7b Hour /aʊr/ time-period after /ˈɑːf.tər/ following hour /aʊr/ time-period the /ðə/ DEF.ART conspirator /kənˈspɪ.rə.tər/ plotter laboured /ˈlæɪ.bərd/ PAST.toil at /æt/ upon his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS forgery /ˈfɔːr.dʒə.riː/ false-document
2.8a After the letter was complete, he held it to the flame to dry the ink.
2.8b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ subsequent-to the /ðə/ DEF.ART letter /ˈlɛ.tər/ epistle was /wɒz/ PAST.be complete /kəmˈpliːt/ finished he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM held /hɛld/ PAST.hold it /ɪt/ 3SG.NEUT.OBJ to /tuː/ toward the /ðə/ DEF.ART flame /flæːm/ fire to /tuː/ INFINITIVE.MARKER dry /drɛɪ/ remove-moisture the /ðə/ DEF.ART ink /ɪŋk/ writing-fluid
2.9a “They shall look after me with new eyes,” he muttered, “after they have read this.”
2.9b They /ðæɪ/ 3PL.NOM shall /ʃæl/ FUT.AUX look /luːk/ regard after /ˈɑːf.tər/ upon me /meː/ 1SG.OBJ with /wɪθ/ having new /njuː/ different eyes /ɛɪz/ perception he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM muttered /ˈmʌ.tərd/ PAST.speak-low after /ˈɑːf.tər/ subsequent-to they /ðæɪ/ 3PL.NOM have /hæv/ PRES.PERF.AUX read /rɛːd/ PAST.PART.peruse this /ðɪs/ DEM.PROX
2.10a His ambition, nursed after years of slights, now demanded satisfaction.
2.10b His /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS ambition /æmˈbɪ.tjʊn/ aspiration nursed /nɜːrst/ PAST.PART.foster after /ˈɑːf.tər/ throughout years /jɪːrz/ annual-periods of /ɒv/ GEN.PREP slights /slɛɪts/ insults now /naʊ/ at-present demanded /dɪˈmæn.dɪd/ PAST.require satisfaction /ˌsæ.tɪsˈfæk.tjʊn/ fulfillment
2.11a After the manner of stage villains, he addressed the darkness.
2.11b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ in-the-style-of the /ðə/ DEF.ART manner /ˈmæn.ər/ fashion of /ɒv/ GEN.PREP stage /stæːdʒ/ theatrical villains /ˈvɪl.ənz/ antagonists he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM addressed /əˈdrɛst/ PAST.speak-to the /ðə/ DEF.ART darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ absence-of-light
2.12a “After me, the deluge—let it come, I care not.”
2.12b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following me /meː/ 1SG.OBJ the /ðə/ DEF.ART deluge /ˈdɛl.juːdʒ/ flood let /lɛt/ permit it /ɪt/ 3SG.NEUT.NOM come /kʌm/ arrive I /ɪː/ 1SG.NOM care /kɛːr/ concern-myself not /nɒt/ NEG
2.13a Yet after all his scheming, doubt crept in with the dawn.
2.13b Yet /jɛt/ nevertheless after /ˈɑːf.tər/ despite all /ɔːl/ every-part-of his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS scheming /ˈskiː.mɪŋ/ PRES.PART.plot doubt /daʊt/ uncertainty crept /krɛpt/ PAST.creep in /ɪn/ into with /wɪθ/ accompanying the /ðə/ DEF.ART dawn /dɔːn/ daybreak
2.14a After what he had set in motion, there could be no return.
2.14b After /ˈɑːf.tər/ following what /hwɑːt/ REL.that-which he /heː/ 3SG.MASC.NOM had /hæd/ PAST.PERF.AUX set /sɛt/ PAST.PART.put in /ɪn/ into motion /ˈmoː.tjʊn/ action there /ðɛːr/ EXIST.marker could /kʊd/ PAST.MODAL.can be /beː/ INFINITIVE.be no /noː/ NEG return /rɪˈtɜːrn/ going-back
2.15a The world after this deed would be his—or his tomb.
2.15b The /ðə/ DEF.ART world /wɜːrld/ earthly-realm after /ˈɑːf.tər/ following this /ðɪs/ DEM.PROX deed /diːd/ action would /wʊd/ COND.AUX be /beː/ INFINITIVE.be his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS or /ɔːr/ alternatively his /hɪz/ 3SG.MASC.POSS tomb /tuːm/ burial-place
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute’s Elizabethan English course, which uses the construed text methodology to make Early Modern English accessible to autodidact learners. The course follows a systematic 1000-word frequency curriculum, introducing vocabulary through detailed grammatical analysis, cultural context, and literary citations from the period.
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Trustpilot Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Key Features of This Methodology -
Interlinear Glossing: Each word receives individual attention, with pronunciation in IPA reflecting period norms (including the /tjʊn/ pronunciation of -tion endings, full rhoticity, and Great Vowel Shift-era vowel values) -
Progressive Complexity: Examples move from simple constructions to elaborate literary passages -
Self-Contained Lessons: The interlinear format makes all vocabulary accessible regardless of lesson sequence -
Authentic Citations: Primary source material from Shakespeare and his contemporaries demonstrates actual period usage
The Elizabethan Soundscape
Unlike modern courses that impose contemporary pronunciation on historical texts, this course reconstructs the sounds Shakespeare’s audiences would have heard. Understanding that devotion was pronounced /dɪˈvoː.tjʊn/ rather than /dɪˈvoʊ.ʃən/ opens the ear to rhymes and wordplay otherwise lost.
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✓ Lesson 56 Elizabethan English complete
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