afterlife
UK[ˈɑːftəlaɪf]US[ˈæftərlaɪf]
n
the existence that some people believe begins after death
n
the later part of someone's life or the period following a particular event
Morpheme Breakdown
after
life
after
behind in place, later in time
life
existence, lifetime
Etymology
the word 'afterlife' is a transparent compound formed from two native english words of old english origin. 'after' derives from the old english 'æfter', which has germanic roots and is related to the idea of being behind in place or later in sequence. 'life' comes from the old english 'līf', meaning the condition of being alive. the compound itself is a relatively modern formation, emerging in the late 16th century to conceptualize a life or state of existence believed to follow physical death. its logic is entirely literal, combining the temporal/spatial sense of 'after' with the core concept of 'life' to denote a subsequent existence.
Analysis
Structure: after + life
after (old english, preposition/adverb meaning 'behind in place, later in time') + life (old english, noun meaning 'existence, lifetime')
Examples
many religions have specific beliefs about the nature of the afterlife.
the artist's work enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in the decades following his death, securing his legacy in the afterlife of his career.
the book explores the ancient egyptian conception of the afterlife in great detail.