follow
UK[ˈfɒləʊ]US[ˈfɑːloʊ]
v
To go or come after or behind someone or something.
v
To happen or come after something else.
v
To act according to an instruction, rule, or example.
v
To understand the meaning or logic of something.
v
To be interested in the development of something or to be a fan of someone.
Etymology
The journey of 'follow' begins in Old English as 'folgian', a verb meaning to accompany or pursue. It descends from the West Germanic fulgēn, which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root fulg-, a term of uncertain but ancient pedigree. While its precise Proto-Indo-European ancestor is debated, one plausible connection links it to a root meaning "full," suggesting the original sense was one of complete accompaniment or adherence. Over centuries, the spelling simplified from 'folgian' to 'follow', and its meaning expanded from the literal act of walking behind someone to encompass abstract concepts like understanding a logical sequence, obeying instructions, and tracking developments.
Analysis
The word 'follow' is a simplex word derived from Old English 'folgian', 'fylgan', meaning "to accompany, follow after; pursue." Its ultimate origin is Proto-Germanic fulg- (via West Germanic fulgēn), which is of uncertain deeper origin, though possibly related to a PIE root meaning "full" in the sense of "to accompany fully."
Examples
The puppy would follow its owner everywhere.
Please follow the instructions on the screen carefully.
It was hard to follow the plot of the complex movie.