Afterthought
/ˈæf.tər.θɔːt/noun
Something added, considered, or mentioned later as an additional thought.
Did you know?Unlike many spooky-looking English words, afterthought is transparently native English: it was built from after + thought, with no hidden Latin or occult origin—just the eerie simplicity of time lag turned into a word.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
æfter
“after, later in time”
Old English
OE
þoht
“thought, reflection, idea”
14th Century
English
after þoht
“a thought occurring later; a later consideration”
16th Century
English
afterthought
“a later addition or subsequent reflection”
Modern English
English
afterthought
“something added or considered later”