afterglow
UK[ˈɑːftəɡləʊ]US[ˈæftərɡloʊ]
n
The light that remains in the sky after the sun has set.
n
A pleasant feeling that remains after a satisfying or enjoyable experience.
Morpheme Breakdown
after
glow
after
glow
Etymology
The word 'afterglow' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. 'After' derives from the Old English 'æfter', with a core sense of following in place or time, traceable back to Proto-Germanic after and ultimately Proto-Indo-European apotero- ("further behind"). 'Glow' originates from Old English 'glōwan', a verb meaning to shine with a steady, radiant light, related to Old Norse 'glóa' and stemming from the Proto-Germanic glō-. The compound first appeared in the early 19th century, its literal meaning describing the lingering light in the sky post-sunset. By the late 19th century, this vivid physical metaphor was logically extended to describe the lingering feeling of warmth, pleasure, or satisfaction following a peak emotional or experiential event, perfectly capturing the sense of a fading but pleasant radiance.
Analysis
Structure: after + glow
- after (Old English: æfter; meaning: behind in place, later in time) - A preposition/adverb/adjective forming the first element of a compound word, indicating subsequence.
- glow (Old English: glōwan; meaning: to glow, shine) - The core noun element, denoting a steady light or warmth.
Examples
The mountains were silhouetted against the deep orange afterglow of the sunset.
She basked in the afterglow of her successful performance.
The peaceful afterglow of their conversation stayed with him for the rest of the day.