afternoonn.adv.int.

Brit.

/ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/,

/ˌaftəˈnuːn/, U.S.

/ˌæftərˈnun/

Forms: see after- prefix and noon n.; also 1600s afeternone.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: after- prefix, noon n.

Etymology: < after- prefix (compare after- prefix 2a) + noon n. Compare classical Latin post merīdiem post meridiem adv. Compare also after-supper n., after-dinner n.A form arternoon (also art'noon , artnoon ) is found in regional and colloquial use from the early 19th cent.: compare arter adv., prep., and conj.

A. n.

1. Originally: the part of the day between the midday meal and the evening meal. In later use: the part of the day from noon or lunchtime to evening. Cf. forenoon n. 1.In early use often not a fixed collocation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > afternoon > [noun]

evenOE

overnoonOE

midovernoona1325

afternoonc1330

mid-afternoona1400

undern1470

after-dinner1576

postmeridian1583

evening1587

post meridiem1647

none1656

noon1667

postnoon1686

aft1772

p.m.1776

after1906

pip emma1912

arvo1933

pee em1933

afty1966

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 358 (MED) Go nu..& send him after none.]

c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 4789 Fram midday fort afternone He nadde strengþe bot of one, Fram afternone to auensong So to kniȝtes he was strong.

c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 75 (MED) Sche slepe til after none, Þat vnder-tide was al y-done.

1447 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) i. 7 (MED) That afternone y went ayen to Lambeth.

c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner Hist. Coll. Citizen London (1876) 196 (MED) That same day, the aftyr non, the Duke of Yorke roode thoroughe London.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Liii Thus cloudy mornyngs turne to clere after noones.

1580 H. Smith in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) ii. 470 At 3. in the afternoone we did warpe from one piece of ice to another.

1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 138 These men serue God in the fore-noone, and the diuell in the afternoone.

1615 T. Mason Christs Victorie 163 He Preached three forenoones and afternoones.

1669 S. Pepys Diary 1 Mar. (1976) IX. 463 Spent the afternoon in several places.

a1704 T. Brown Comical View London & Westm. (new ed.) in Wks. (1707) I. ii. 45 Afternoon sleepy in most Churches.

1760 London Mag. May 258/2 Our mistresses being put out of humour for the whole afternoon by these Poppers-in.

1832 Ld. Tennyson Lotos-eaters i, in Poems (new ed.) 108 In the afternoon they came unto a land, In which it seemèd always afternoon.

1852 W. Flagg Let. 19 Sept. in Flagg Corr. (1986) 189 I arrived a little after two in the afternoon.

1877 W. Lytteil Landmarks Sc. Life & Lang. ii. ii. 97 She had often sat on summer afternoons admiring the majesty of the Arran Fells.

1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song i. 75 They..closed the door and didn't come down for hours, though it was bare the middle of the afternoon.

1963 F. O'Connor Let. 1 Jan. in Habit of Being (1979) 504 He spent the afternoon with us and stayed to supper.

2009 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 30 Apr. 46/2 The pinky bronze light of late-summer afternoons.

2. figurative. The later part of something, often with the implication of a decline towards an end.

ΚΠ

1562 A. Golding tr. Briefe Treat. Burnynge Bucer & Phagius sig. B.viii^v Such as setting forth later, came to this gamynge as it wer in the after noon, did showe such infallible tokens of thalteracion of their mindes.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 176 Euen in the afternoone of her best daies.

1673 J. Flavell Fountain of Life xxxv. 488 If the morning of thy life be not gone, oh devote it to the work of God, as Christ did. If it be, ply thy work the closer in the afternoon of thy life.

1720 Hist. Life & Adventures D. Campbell vii. 210 The After-noon of their Life will be very stormy, rainy and uncomfortable.

1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in Enoch Arden, etc. 75 My lady's cousin, Half-sickening of his pension'd afternoon.

1871 E. F. Burr Ad Fidem ix. 162 The world's latest afternoon.

1920 Joint Comm. on Unification (Methodist Episcopal Church) 612 We are yet far from the afternoon of the world.

1962 ‘Miss Read’ Miss Clare Remembers xiii. 136 Passed the years..teaching in the long golden afternoon of Edward's reign.

2006 M. Binchy Whitethorn Woods (2008) 72 What a delightful person to meet in the late afternoon of her years.

3. A social event held in the afternoon, esp. (in early use) an at-home.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > social event > visit > [noun] > a reception of visitors

conversation1740

at-home1745

conversazione1782

reception1847

afternoon1882

meet-and-greet1960

1882 Belgravia Mar. 110 Yesterday my aunt and Amelia went to an ‘afternoon’ at some lady's house.

1909 H. G. Wells Ann Veronica ii. 44 Both ladies were on easy and friendly terms with all that was best in Morningside Park society; they had an afternoon once a month that was quite well attended.

1922 F. H. Burnett Head of House of Coombe xviii. 215 She gave an ‘afternoon’ now and then to which literary people and artists, and persons who ‘did things’ were invited.

1994 H. L. Horowitz Power & Passion of M. C. Thomas (1999) x. 192 They went to an afternoon at the Boston Women's Club.

B. adv.

In the afternoon. Now only in phrases, as morning and afternoon, morning, afternoon, and evening.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > afternoon > [adverb]

afternoon1548

mid-afternoon1847

1548 N. Udall et al. tr. D. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke .xxiii. f. clxxxi^v A great derkenesse..continued till the nynth houre, that is to saye, till three of the clocke afternoone.

1590 W. Burton Serm. preached in Norwich sig. D1 Againe they say, we wil not reade seruice euery day forenoone and afternoone, to the walles and the windows.

1771 J. Wesley Let. 18 May (1931) V. 244 As soon as my back was turned, you valiantly attacked me, I suppose both morning and afternoon.

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 292 The funeral..was to proceed..at one o'clock afternoon.

1903 World's Work Aug. 3719/1 To this great terminus more human beings go morning and afternoon than go to any other terminal in the world.

1964 R. K. Narayan My Dateless Diary (1988) 184 Jackie walking in for an hour or two morning, afternoon, and evening, to put in the corrections.

2003 M. Ali Brick Lane i. 12 Morning and afternoon she sat with her big thighs spilling over the sides of her chair, tipping forward to drop ash in a bowl, tipping back to slug from her can.

C. int.

colloquial. Short for good afternoon int. and n. Cf. morning int.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of greeting > at specific times of day

good morrowc1405

good morningc1450

morrowa1625

evening1886

afternoon1893

1893 United Service Oct. 324 ‘Afternoon, miss,’ he said. ‘Good-afternoon, Mr. Pete,’ replied Queenie, without the slightest trace of discomposure.

1921 E. O'Neill Diff'rent i, in Emperor Jones 223 Afternoon, Harriet—and Alf. Harriet. Afternoon, Ma.

1966 T. Frisby There's Girl in my Soup i. 5 Afternoon, Mr Hunter. Mr. Danvers's taxi is waiting.

2002 A. B. Ross Miss Julia throws Wedding (2003) xvi. 121 Afternoon, Miss Julia. Can I help you?

2006 F. Kiernan & G. Hemphill Still Game: Scripts I. iii. 78 Afternoon, Boabby. Pint of my usual, please.

Phrases

†P1. at afternoon: in the afternoon; during the afternoon. Obsolete.Some early quots. may represent uses of at after prep. with noon n.

ΚΠ

1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 48 (MED) And also at after-non þe same day..to chese here maistres for þe nexte ȝeer folwynge.

1429 in Norfolk Archaeol. (1904) 15 147 (MED) At afternone ij lod of ston, paying viij d. to ye myner to here owyn place.

1463 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 228 The nyte next afore tyl the sayd day at aftyr noyn.

c1540 Image Ipocrysy i, in J. Skelton Poet. Wks. (1843) II. 419/1 When masse and all is done, Shall were at afternone.

1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 381/1 in Chron. I A terrible Eclipse of the Sunne at thre of the clocke at after noone.

1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 76^v The king..To take a nappe at after noone, Into his chamber gotte.

1613 W. Welwood Abridgem. Sea-lawes xxvi. 58 To lift the same from Saturday at after-noone till Monday.

1646 J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) p. xxxi And then at afternoon, speaking to our elderis of many thingis.

P2. this afternoon: the afternoon of today. Chiefly in adverbial use: during the afternoon of today.

ΚΠ

a1450 Memorandum in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 522 It was told vs this after-non.

1527 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. 73 We abide passage which we trust to have this afternoon.

1545 Duke of Suffolk Let. 7 Aug. in J. Hooker Life Sir P. Carew (1857) 131 My Lorde Admyrall..told me that he had a good hope of the waying upright of the Mary Rose this afternone or to-morrow.

1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe ii. i. sig. C2 From him come I, to intreate you..to meet him this afternoon at the Rhenesh-wine-house ith Stillyard.

1668 S. Pepys Diary 11 Aug. (1976) IX. 278 This afternoon, my wife and Mercer..to see the Gipsys at Lambeth and have their fortunes told.

1726 B. Franklin Jrnl. 29 July in Wks. (1887) I. App. 104 All this afternoon I spent..at the draft-board.

1771 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1988) I. 166 Dr. King has been with me this afternoon amusing himself with spouting Shakespeare, Pope, & others.

1821 J. Clare Let. c3 Apr. (1985) 177 Having perked up this afternoon I perused the proofs.

1854 N.-Y. Daily Times 30 Mar. 5/1 (advt.) Acting dogs, &c, this afternoon, at Barnum's.

1891 Northwestern Reporter 49 176/2 The witnesses called here for this afternoon will be excused for this afternoon, but will report here at 9:30 o'clock to-morrow morning.

1940 R. Wright Native Son i. 29 If something slipped up this afternoon he would be out of a job and in jail, maybe.

2004 Cosmo Girl Aug. 165/1 Unusual bargains and edgy finds can be snapped up this afternoon.

P3. of an afternoon: in the afternoon, during an afternoon; esp. habitually in the afternoon, every afternoon. Also (now rare) in an afternoon.

ΚΠ

1595 A. Copley Wits Fittes & Fancies iii. 81 A Gent. was a suter to a faire Gentlewoman, and comming in an afternoone to court her, he found her then at cards with an other Gent. whome he had in jealosie of a corriuall.

1684 T. Otway Atheist 23 What will it do, Jackie-boy? Serve, may be, to play at Tick-tack in an Afternoon, three Hits up for a Piece, or so.

1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. at Of If you come of an Afternoon.

1760 J. C. Pilkington Real Story 196 When I came home of an afternoon, if there was no company, he took care to have tea and coffee.

1791 J. Adams Elegant Tales, Hist., & Epist. 394 I'll go myself, though I am not fond of going in an afternoon, as half the pews are filled with servants.

1834 Brit. Mag. & Monthly Reg. Feb. 174 They all communicate at the church, and attend there in an afternoon, but not in a morning, when the service interferes with that of the meeting-house.

1882 Harper's Mag. July 222/2 Dwellers in modern Cordova attend mass and vespers, stroll around to the confectioners' of an afternoon to eat sweetmeats.

1934 Manch. Guardian 24 Mar. 11/7 He who goes there in an afternoon is soon surrounded by a faint but unmistakable impression that the real anxiety of the authorities is to get him out again.

1948 ‘J. Tey’ Franchise Affair xiii. 138 One result of stepping out of a routined life was..that you couldn't..stroll home at four o'clock of an afternoon.

2003 J. Spencer Pilots 240 We takes pride in our garden, luv. Nice place to sit and chat of an afternoon.

Compounds

C1.

a. With the sense ‘taking place during the afternoon; achieved or done in the afternoon’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > afternoon > [adjective]

afternoon1528

pomeridian1575

postmeridian1592

postmeridional1767

anteprandial1802

mid-afternoon1855

1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. C The putrified feuer is..augmented by the after noone slepe.

1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 66 After noone dooings, till supper time come.

1618 S. Ward Iethro's Iustice of Peace 17 [They] cannot indure to hold out a forenoon or afternoone sitting without a Tobacco baite, or a game at Bowles.

1673 True Notion Worship of God 65 An afternoon Sermon..many times..serves only like a fit of Musick, to Lull them asleep after their Dinner.

1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks II. v. 258 Had this been at a University, Theocles might very well have pass'd for some grave Divinity Professor,..reading an Afternoon-Lecture to his Pupils.

1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 248 Church Ales are when people go from afternoon prayers on Sundays to..some public house, where they drink and make merry.

1884 Cent. Mag. Dec. 184/2 And at this juncture, Aunt Sarah appeared, dazed and pink-nosed from her afternoon nap.

1886 Peterson's Mag. June 535/2 It was no unusual thing for Mrs. Humphrey Vose to hold a sort of morning-levee, in the hotel-parlor, before she excluded herself for the afternoon-toilet.

1891 N.Y. Tribune 23 Dec. 3/5 The afternoon session of the trial was taken up with the testimony of the graphological experts.

1928 Cent. Mag. Aug. 488/2 Such intermediate activities as the nursery school, the afternoon play-class, the boy scouts, [etc.].

1951 Sun (Baltimore) 20 Mar. (B ed.) 1/7 No figures were available for the afternoon telecasts, but..the average tune-in from 12 noon to 6 P.M. here is about twelve per cent.

2003 Profit Apr–May 48/2 I try a microkeyboard..during an afternoon seminar.

b. With the sense ‘carrying out an activity in or only in the afternoon; active or operating during the afternoon’.With quots. 1580, 1895 cf. afternoon man n. at Compounds 2.

ΚΠ

1580 G. Harvey in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 29 A morning bookeworm, an afternoone maltworm.

1708 in R. Steele Let. 28 Aug. (1787) I. 48 I sent ten pounds by the afternoon coach.

1761 London Chron. 20 June 594/2 The Rector of St. Gorge's Hanover-square, has nominated Mr. Vincent afternoon lecturer at Conduit-street Chapel.

1860 Rep. Director of Public Instr., Bombay, 1858–9 396 The figure drawing..has proved remarkably attractive to the afternoon students.

1895 Temple Bar May 102 He is an afternoon sort of chap.

1924 Otago Witness (Dunedin, N.Z.) 2 Dec. 34 The night ‘limited’ from Wellington can collect passengers from the afternoon Wairarapa train.

1988 T. Dangarembga Nerv. Conditions (1993) i. 1 We were expecting him home by the afternoon bus that passed through our village at three o'clock.

2006 A. E. Wolf Why can't you shut Up? v. 93 She had spoken to the afternoon workers, but she remained uneasy.

c. With the sense ‘consumed (habitually) during the afternoon’. See also afternoon tea n. at Compounds 2.

ΚΠ

1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (iii. 3) 1131 Calling for their afternoone-bevers, before they have concocted their dinners.

1756 Life & Mem. E. T. Bates xxi. 166 Whether the Beer he had that Day drank, or whether the Beef he had ate to Breakfast, Dinner, and Afternoon-luncheon.

1799 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 777/1 Regale themselves with their afternoon coffee and pipe of tobacco.

1832 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 2 June 137/2 As both..partook of the same pease-bread and milk, which served as their afternoon meal.

1857 ‘Cousin Fannie’ tr. Bright Pictures from Child Life 163/1 I had my afternoon bread in my pocket.

1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire Oanders, the afternoon meal, often sent out in harvest-time to the labourers in the fields.

1900 F. Galton Let. 29 June in K. Pearson Life, Lett., & Labours (1930) III. 519 My favourite (but unwholesome) afternoon provender is just set down at my elbow, viz. tea and muffins.

1990 S. Sturges Preston Sturges vii. 40 The eleven-thirty and three-thirty sausage breaks, the pre-lunch vorspeise, the afternoon snacks.

2003 R. Rachowiecki et al. Ecuador & (Lonely Planet) (ed. 6) 268/2 A nice open-air bar, good for afternoon beers by the river.

d. With the sense ‘existing during the afternoon; of or belonging to the afternoon’.

ΚΠ

1687 Philos. Trans. 1686–7 (Royal Soc.) 16 214 Castes its Morning Shadow from its Western Edge, and the after-noon Shadow from its Eastern Edge.

a1790 W. Newton tr. Vitruvius Archit. (1791) II. vi. vii. 139 The winter triclinium..should look to the winter west, because the afternoon light is there useful.

1850 C. Reade Christie Johnstone 155 The afternoon beams sprinkled gold on a long grassy slope.

1879 Scribner's Monthly Feb. 465/1 The afternoon sky was filling with color.

1961 J. Carew Last Barbarian 285 The afternoon sun was warm and mellow.

2002 Independent 5 Aug. 15/2 The afternoon clouds that pile up so enticingly on the horizon.

e. With the sense ‘designating clothing worn or intended to be worn in the afternoon’.

ΚΠ

1782 R. Bage Mt. Henneth II. 8 My uncle ordered him to be called. He came in his afternoon dress.

1818 La Belle Assemblée Apr. 176/2 All the paraphernalia requisite for a youthful bride, the laced night-cap, the afternoon hat, and the morning deshabille.

1843 J. L. Stephens Incidents Trav. Yucatan II. viii. 142 The vecinos, in their clean afternoon clothes,..came over to ‘call upon us’.

1899 Westm. Gaz. 22 June 3/2 A simple pretty afternoon gown of blue toile, that mixture of silk and linen.

1927 Weekly Disp. 6 Nov. 16 The afternoon ensemble is by no means dead.

1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes i. i. 17 The east wind whistled into every open crevice of her afternoon frock.

1992 G. Adair Post-modernist always rings Twice 110 [She] wears a beautiful long-sleeved afternoon coat for most of the performance before switching to a brilliantly beaded evening gown for her final solo.

C2.

afternoon farmer n. originally English regional (midlands and southern) a farmer who begins work late; a procrastinating or lazy farmer; (in extended use) a lazy person.

ΚΠ

1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman June iii. 39 Others, where the Crop is thin, will not hough at all; but these are your Afternoon Farmers, as we call them.

1838 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 315/2 A few of those termed afternoon-farmers, who, let the season be ever so favourable, are always behind hand.

1889 Standard 28 Nov. 2/1 The rain and snow..have come too soon for a few ‘afternoon farmers’, who have not yet put in all their wheat.

1910 W. Raymond Eng. Country Life (1911) xxix. 359 Goodman Rudd was something of an ‘afternoon farmer’, as folk said.

1952 J. Reaney Bully in R. Weaver & H. James Canad. Short Stories 204 He was what is known as an afternoon farmer. He could never get out into the fields till about half-past eleven in the morning.

2005 D. Francis Great Inland Sea 151 My father said Dickie was lazy, called him an afternoon farmer.

afternoon man n. (formerly also afternoon's man) (a) a man given to drinking alcohol after the midday meal; a habitual drinker of alcohol; (b) a late or lazy man (cf. afternoon farmer n.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [noun] > one who drinks to excess

houndOE

drinkerc1200

keach-cup?c1225

gulchcupa1250

bollerc1320

taverner1340

ale stake?1515

wine-bibber1535

bibber1536

swill-bowl1542

malt-wormc1550

rinse-pitcher1552

bibblera1556

ale knight1556

tosspot1568

ring-pigger1570

troll-the-bowl1575

malt-bug1577

gossip-pint-pot1580

black pot1582

alehouse knight1583

worrier1584

suck-spigot1585

bezzle1592

bezzlera1593

cup-leech1593

soaker1593

carouser1596

barley-cap1598

swiller1598

rob-pot1599

Philistine1600

sponge1600

wine-knight1601

fill-knaga1605

reel-pot1604

faithful1609

fill-pot1609

bouser1611

spigot-sucker1611

suck-pint1611

whip-can1611

bib-all-night1612

afternoon man1615

potling1616

Bacchanalian1617

bombard1617

pot-shot1617

potisuge1620

trougha1625

tumbrila1625

borachioa1627

pot-leech1630

kill-pota1637

biberon1637

bang-pitcher1639

son of Bacchusc1640

shuffler1642

suck-bottlea1652

swill-pot1653

poter1657

potatora1660

old soaker1665

fuddle cap1666

old toast1668

bubber1669

toper1673

ale-toast1691

Bacchant1699

fuddler1699

swill-belly1699

tickle-pitcher1699

whetter1709

draughtsmanc1720

bender1728

drammer1740

dram-drinker1744

drammist1756

rum-bud1805

siper1805

Bacchanal1812

boozera1819

rum-sucker1819

soak1820

imp of the spigot1821

polyposist1821

wineskin1821

sack-guzzler1823

sitfast1828

swill-flagon1829

cup-man1834

swiper1836

Lushington1851

lushing-man1859

bloat1860

pottle pot1860

tipsificator1873

tipsifier1873

pegger1874

swizzler1876

bibulant1883

toss-cup1883

lusher1895

stew-bum1902

shicker1906

stiff1907

souse1915

booze-hound1926

stumblebum1932

tanker1932

lush-hound1935

lushy1944

lush-head1945

binge drinker1946

pisshead1946

hophead1948

1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. L5 The Play-houses..make him an afternoones man.

1628 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 3) Democritus to Rdr. 43 Beroaldus will haue drunkards, afternoone men, and such as more then ordinarily delight in drinke, to be mad.

1639 R. Ward Animadversions of Warre xiii. ccx. 346 As for the Governour, he was no afternoone-man, this project was cleanly performed, and in their drunken security the Towne was surprized.

1837 R. W. Emerson Jrnl. 19 Sept. (1910) IV. xxviii. 292 I have among my kinsmen a man to whom..I may apply the phrase ‘an afternoon man’. He rolls and riots in delays.

1893 G. L. Gower Gloss. Surrey Words 2 He's pretty much of an afternoon man.

1931 A. Powell (title) Afternoon men.

2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 7 June (Arts & Leisure section) 24/1 In those days [sc. the 1970s] Soho was full of clubs... They existed partly to refresh thirsty ‘afternoon men’ at a time when the pubs were obliged to shut from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

afternoon tea n. originally and chiefly British (a) tea drunk in the afternoon; (b) a light afternoon meal or social occasion at which tea is served, now typically together with sandwiches, scones, cakes, etc.; cf. cream tea n. at cream n.² Compounds 1b, high tea n. at high adj. and n.² Compounds 4.

ΚΠ

1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xvii. 110 I will go down..and excuse your attendance at afternoon-tea.

a1754 H. Fielding Jrnl. Voy. Lisbon (1755) 104 Our ladies..drank their afternoon tea at an alehouse.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iii I invited them both on the spot to afternoon tea on Saturday.

1921 Spice Mill (N.Y.) June 976/2 The question whether the efficiency of British workers would be impaired were they deprived of their afternoon tea, is one now engaging the attention of some of the leading business concerns in London.

1941 Life 9 June 122/2 He has a curious eccentric habit when drinking his afternoon tea, of balancing his cigaret upright on its unlighted end on the table.

1992 L. Mackley Bk. Afternoon Tea 8/2 Afternoon tea should be a graceful event; an opportunity to display the best china and table linen, and a time for people of all ages to gather together for relaxation and refreshments.

2005 Time Out 7 Dec. 160/4 Proper afternoon tea is served, complete with finger sandwiches, tea loaf, cream cakes, scones and clotted cream.

Derivatives

afterˈnoony adj.

ΚΠ

1873 E. Taylor Quixstar vii. 39 Mr. Sinclair's reflections, as he looked at them, were most likely afternoony in their complexion.

1885 T. H. Huxley Let. 23 Feb. in L. Huxley Life & Lett. T. H. Huxley (1900) II. vi. 96 There is something idle and afternoony about the air which whittles away one's resolution.

2001 M. Joss Fruitful Bodies (2005) i. vii. 50 A lazy, afternoony warmth clung to the shed.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	afternoon
释义	afternoonn.adv.int. Brit. /ˌɑːftəˈnuːn/, /ˌaftəˈnuːn/, U.S. /ˌæftərˈnun/ Forms: see after- prefix and noon n.; also 1600s afeternone. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: after- prefix, noon n. Etymology: < after- prefix (compare after- prefix 2a) + noon n. Compare classical Latin post merīdiem post meridiem adv. Compare also after-supper n., after-dinner n.A form arternoon (also art'noon , artnoon ) is found in regional and colloquial use from the early 19th cent.: compare arter adv., prep., and conj. A. n. 1. Originally: the part of the day between the midday meal and the evening meal. In later use: the part of the day from noon or lunchtime to evening. Cf. forenoon n. 1.In early use often not a fixed collocation. ΘΚΠ the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > afternoon > [noun] evenOE overnoonOE midovernoona1325 afternoonc1330 mid-afternoona1400 undern1470 after-dinner1576 postmeridian1583 evening1587 post meridiem1647 none1656 noon1667 postnoon1686 aft1772 p.m.1776 after1906 pip emma1912 arvo1933 pee em1933 afty1966 c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 358 (MED) Go nu..& send him after none.] c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) l. 4789 Fram midday fort afternone He nadde strengþe bot of one, Fram afternone to auensong So to kniȝtes he was strong. c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 75 (MED) Sche slepe til after none, Þat vnder-tide was al y-done. 1447 in S. A. Moore Lett. & Papers J. Shillingford (1871) i. 7 (MED) That afternone y went ayen to Lambeth. c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner Hist. Coll. Citizen London (1876) 196 (MED) That same day, the aftyr non, the Duke of Yorke roode thoroughe London. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Liii Thus cloudy mornyngs turne to clere after noones. 1580 H. Smith in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) ii. 470 At 3. in the afternoone we did warpe from one piece of ice to another. 1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 138 These men serue God in the fore-noone, and the diuell in the afternoone. 1615 T. Mason Christs Victorie 163 He Preached three forenoones and afternoones. 1669 S. Pepys Diary 1 Mar. (1976) IX. 463 Spent the afternoon in several places. a1704 T. Brown Comical View London & Westm. (new ed.) in Wks. (1707) I. ii. 45 Afternoon sleepy in most Churches. 1760 London Mag. May 258/2 Our mistresses being put out of humour for the whole afternoon by these Poppers-in. 1832 Ld. Tennyson Lotos-eaters i, in Poems (new ed.) 108 In the afternoon they came unto a land, In which it seemèd always afternoon. 1852 W. Flagg Let. 19 Sept. in Flagg Corr. (1986) 189 I arrived a little after two in the afternoon. 1877 W. Lytteil Landmarks Sc. Life & Lang. ii. ii. 97 She had often sat on summer afternoons admiring the majesty of the Arran Fells. 1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song i. 75 They..closed the door and didn't come down for hours, though it was bare the middle of the afternoon. 1963 F. O'Connor Let. 1 Jan. in Habit of Being (1979) 504 He spent the afternoon with us and stayed to supper. 2009 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 30 Apr. 46/2 The pinky bronze light of late-summer afternoons. 2. figurative. The later part of something, often with the implication of a decline towards an end. ΚΠ 1562 A. Golding tr. Briefe Treat. Burnynge Bucer & Phagius sig. B.viii^v Such as setting forth later, came to this gamynge as it wer in the after noon, did showe such infallible tokens of thalteracion of their mindes. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III iii. vii. 176 Euen in the afternoone of her best daies. View more context for this quotation 1673 J. Flavell Fountain of Life xxxv. 488 If the morning of thy life be not gone, oh devote it to the work of God, as Christ did. If it be, ply thy work the closer in the afternoon of thy life. 1720 Hist. Life & Adventures D. Campbell vii. 210 The After-noon of their Life will be very stormy, rainy and uncomfortable. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in Enoch Arden, etc. 75 My lady's cousin, Half-sickening of his pension'd afternoon. 1871 E. F. Burr Ad Fidem ix. 162 The world's latest afternoon. 1920 Joint Comm. on Unification (Methodist Episcopal Church) 612 We are yet far from the afternoon of the world. 1962 ‘Miss Read’ Miss Clare Remembers xiii. 136 Passed the years..teaching in the long golden afternoon of Edward's reign. 2006 M. Binchy Whitethorn Woods (2008) 72 What a delightful person to meet in the late afternoon of her years. 3. A social event held in the afternoon, esp. (in early use) an at-home. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > social event > visit > [noun] > a reception of visitors conversation1740 at-home1745 conversazione1782 reception1847 afternoon1882 meet-and-greet1960 1882 Belgravia Mar. 110 Yesterday my aunt and Amelia went to an ‘afternoon’ at some lady's house. 1909 H. G. Wells Ann Veronica ii. 44 Both ladies were on easy and friendly terms with all that was best in Morningside Park society; they had an afternoon once a month that was quite well attended. 1922 F. H. Burnett Head of House of Coombe xviii. 215 She gave an ‘afternoon’ now and then to which literary people and artists, and persons who ‘did things’ were invited. 1994 H. L. Horowitz Power & Passion of M. C. Thomas (1999) x. 192 They went to an afternoon at the Boston Women's Club. B. adv. In the afternoon. Now only in phrases, as morning and afternoon, morning, afternoon, and evening. ΘΚΠ the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > afternoon > [adverb] afternoon1548 mid-afternoon1847 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. D. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke .xxiii. f. clxxxi^v A great derkenesse..continued till the nynth houre, that is to saye, till three of the clocke afternoone. 1590 W. Burton Serm. preached in Norwich sig. D1 Againe they say, we wil not reade seruice euery day forenoone and afternoone, to the walles and the windows. 1771 J. Wesley Let. 18 May (1931) V. 244 As soon as my back was turned, you valiantly attacked me, I suppose both morning and afternoon. 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 292 The funeral..was to proceed..at one o'clock afternoon. 1903 World's Work Aug. 3719/1 To this great terminus more human beings go morning and afternoon than go to any other terminal in the world. 1964 R. K. Narayan My Dateless Diary (1988) 184 Jackie walking in for an hour or two morning, afternoon, and evening, to put in the corrections. 2003 M. Ali Brick Lane i. 12 Morning and afternoon she sat with her big thighs spilling over the sides of her chair, tipping forward to drop ash in a bowl, tipping back to slug from her can. C. int. colloquial. Short for good afternoon int. and n. Cf. morning int. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of greeting > at specific times of day good morrowc1405 good morningc1450 morrowa1625 evening1886 afternoon1893 1893 United Service Oct. 324 ‘Afternoon, miss,’ he said. ‘Good-afternoon, Mr. Pete,’ replied Queenie, without the slightest trace of discomposure. 1921 E. O'Neill Diff'rent i, in Emperor Jones 223 Afternoon, Harriet—and Alf. Harriet. Afternoon, Ma. 1966 T. Frisby There's Girl in my Soup i. 5 Afternoon, Mr Hunter. Mr. Danvers's taxi is waiting. 2002 A. B. Ross Miss Julia throws Wedding (2003) xvi. 121 Afternoon, Miss Julia. Can I help you? 2006 F. Kiernan & G. Hemphill Still Game: Scripts I. iii. 78 Afternoon, Boabby. Pint of my usual, please. Phrases †P1. at afternoon: in the afternoon; during the afternoon. Obsolete.Some early quots. may represent uses of at after prep. with noon n. ΚΠ 1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 48 (MED) And also at after-non þe same day..to chese here maistres for þe nexte ȝeer folwynge. 1429 in Norfolk Archaeol. (1904) 15 147 (MED) At afternone ij lod of ston, paying viij d. to ye myner to here owyn place. 1463 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 228 The nyte next afore tyl the sayd day at aftyr noyn. c1540 Image Ipocrysy i, in J. Skelton Poet. Wks. (1843) II. 419/1 When masse and all is done, Shall were at afternone. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 381/1 in Chron. I A terrible Eclipse of the Sunne at thre of the clocke at after noone. 1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 76^v The king..To take a nappe at after noone, Into his chamber gotte. 1613 W. Welwood Abridgem. Sea-lawes xxvi. 58 To lift the same from Saturday at after-noone till Monday. 1646 J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) p. xxxi And then at afternoon, speaking to our elderis of many thingis. P2. this afternoon: the afternoon of today. Chiefly in adverbial use: during the afternoon of today. ΚΠ a1450 Memorandum in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 522 It was told vs this after-non. 1527 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. 73 We abide passage which we trust to have this afternoon. 1545 Duke of Suffolk Let. 7 Aug. in J. Hooker Life Sir P. Carew (1857) 131 My Lorde Admyrall..told me that he had a good hope of the waying upright of the Mary Rose this afternone or to-morrow. 1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe ii. i. sig. C2 From him come I, to intreate you..to meet him this afternoon at the Rhenesh-wine-house ith Stillyard. 1668 S. Pepys Diary 11 Aug. (1976) IX. 278 This afternoon, my wife and Mercer..to see the Gipsys at Lambeth and have their fortunes told. 1726 B. Franklin Jrnl. 29 July in Wks. (1887) I. App. 104 All this afternoon I spent..at the draft-board. 1771 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1988) I. 166 Dr. King has been with me this afternoon amusing himself with spouting Shakespeare, Pope, & others. 1821 J. Clare Let. c3 Apr. (1985) 177 Having perked up this afternoon I perused the proofs. 1854 N.-Y. Daily Times 30 Mar. 5/1 (advt.) Acting dogs, &c, this afternoon, at Barnum's. 1891 Northwestern Reporter 49 176/2 The witnesses called here for this afternoon will be excused for this afternoon, but will report here at 9:30 o'clock to-morrow morning. 1940 R. Wright Native Son i. 29 If something slipped up this afternoon he would be out of a job and in jail, maybe. 2004 Cosmo Girl Aug. 165/1 Unusual bargains and edgy finds can be snapped up this afternoon. P3. of an afternoon: in the afternoon, during an afternoon; esp. habitually in the afternoon, every afternoon. Also (now rare) in an afternoon. ΚΠ 1595 A. Copley Wits Fittes & Fancies iii. 81 A Gent. was a suter to a faire Gentlewoman, and comming in an afternoone to court her, he found her then at cards with an other Gent. whome he had in jealosie of a corriuall. 1684 T. Otway Atheist 23 What will it do, Jackie-boy? Serve, may be, to play at Tick-tack in an Afternoon, three Hits up for a Piece, or so. 1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. at Of If you come of an Afternoon. 1760 J. C. Pilkington Real Story 196 When I came home of an afternoon, if there was no company, he took care to have tea and coffee. 1791 J. Adams Elegant Tales, Hist., & Epist. 394 I'll go myself, though I am not fond of going in an afternoon, as half the pews are filled with servants. 1834 Brit. Mag. & Monthly Reg. Feb. 174 They all communicate at the church, and attend there in an afternoon, but not in a morning, when the service interferes with that of the meeting-house. 1882 Harper's Mag. July 222/2 Dwellers in modern Cordova attend mass and vespers, stroll around to the confectioners' of an afternoon to eat sweetmeats. 1934 Manch. Guardian 24 Mar. 11/7 He who goes there in an afternoon is soon surrounded by a faint but unmistakable impression that the real anxiety of the authorities is to get him out again. 1948 ‘J. Tey’ Franchise Affair xiii. 138 One result of stepping out of a routined life was..that you couldn't..stroll home at four o'clock of an afternoon. 2003 J. Spencer Pilots 240 We takes pride in our garden, luv. Nice place to sit and chat of an afternoon. Compounds C1. a. With the sense ‘taking place during the afternoon; achieved or done in the afternoon’. ΘΚΠ the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > afternoon > [adjective] afternoon1528 pomeridian1575 postmeridian1592 postmeridional1767 anteprandial1802 mid-afternoon1855 1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. C The putrified feuer is..augmented by the after noone slepe. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 66 After noone dooings, till supper time come. 1618 S. Ward Iethro's Iustice of Peace 17 [They] cannot indure to hold out a forenoon or afternoone sitting without a Tobacco baite, or a game at Bowles. 1673 True Notion Worship of God 65 An afternoon Sermon..many times..serves only like a fit of Musick, to Lull them asleep after their Dinner. 1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks II. v. 258 Had this been at a University, Theocles might very well have pass'd for some grave Divinity Professor,..reading an Afternoon-Lecture to his Pupils. 1733 D. Neal Hist. Puritans II. 248 Church Ales are when people go from afternoon prayers on Sundays to..some public house, where they drink and make merry. 1884 Cent. Mag. Dec. 184/2 And at this juncture, Aunt Sarah appeared, dazed and pink-nosed from her afternoon nap. 1886 Peterson's Mag. June 535/2 It was no unusual thing for Mrs. Humphrey Vose to hold a sort of morning-levee, in the hotel-parlor, before she excluded herself for the afternoon-toilet. 1891 N.Y. Tribune 23 Dec. 3/5 The afternoon session of the trial was taken up with the testimony of the graphological experts. 1928 Cent. Mag. Aug. 488/2 Such intermediate activities as the nursery school, the afternoon play-class, the boy scouts, [etc.]. 1951 Sun (Baltimore) 20 Mar. (B ed.) 1/7 No figures were available for the afternoon telecasts, but..the average tune-in from 12 noon to 6 P.M. here is about twelve per cent. 2003 Profit Apr–May 48/2 I try a microkeyboard..during an afternoon seminar. b. With the sense ‘carrying out an activity in or only in the afternoon; active or operating during the afternoon’.With quots. 1580, 1895 cf. afternoon man n. at Compounds 2. ΚΠ 1580 G. Harvey in E. Spenser & G. Harvey Three Proper & Wittie Lett. 29 A morning bookeworm, an afternoone maltworm. 1708 in R. Steele Let. 28 Aug. (1787) I. 48 I sent ten pounds by the afternoon coach. 1761 London Chron. 20 June 594/2 The Rector of St. Gorge's Hanover-square, has nominated Mr. Vincent afternoon lecturer at Conduit-street Chapel. 1860 Rep. Director of Public Instr., Bombay, 1858–9 396 The figure drawing..has proved remarkably attractive to the afternoon students. 1895 Temple Bar May 102 He is an afternoon sort of chap. 1924 Otago Witness (Dunedin, N.Z.) 2 Dec. 34 The night ‘limited’ from Wellington can collect passengers from the afternoon Wairarapa train. 1988 T. Dangarembga Nerv. Conditions (1993) i. 1 We were expecting him home by the afternoon bus that passed through our village at three o'clock. 2006 A. E. Wolf Why can't you shut Up? v. 93 She had spoken to the afternoon workers, but she remained uneasy. c. With the sense ‘consumed (habitually) during the afternoon’. See also afternoon tea n. at Compounds 2. ΚΠ 1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (iii. 3) 1131 Calling for their afternoone-bevers, before they have concocted their dinners. 1756 Life & Mem. E. T. Bates xxi. 166 Whether the Beer he had that Day drank, or whether the Beef he had ate to Breakfast, Dinner, and Afternoon-luncheon. 1799 Gentleman's Mag. Sept. 777/1 Regale themselves with their afternoon coffee and pipe of tobacco. 1832 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 2 June 137/2 As both..partook of the same pease-bread and milk, which served as their afternoon meal. 1857 ‘Cousin Fannie’ tr. Bright Pictures from Child Life 163/1 I had my afternoon bread in my pocket. 1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire Oanders, the afternoon meal, often sent out in harvest-time to the labourers in the fields. 1900 F. Galton Let. 29 June in K. Pearson Life, Lett., & Labours (1930) III. 519 My favourite (but unwholesome) afternoon provender is just set down at my elbow, viz. tea and muffins. 1990 S. Sturges Preston Sturges vii. 40 The eleven-thirty and three-thirty sausage breaks, the pre-lunch vorspeise, the afternoon snacks. 2003 R. Rachowiecki et al. Ecuador & (Lonely Planet) (ed. 6) 268/2 A nice open-air bar, good for afternoon beers by the river. d. With the sense ‘existing during the afternoon; of or belonging to the afternoon’. ΚΠ 1687 Philos. Trans. 1686–7 (Royal Soc.) 16 214 Castes its Morning Shadow from its Western Edge, and the after-noon Shadow from its Eastern Edge. a1790 W. Newton tr. Vitruvius Archit. (1791) II. vi. vii. 139 The winter triclinium..should look to the winter west, because the afternoon light is there useful. 1850 C. Reade Christie Johnstone 155 The afternoon beams sprinkled gold on a long grassy slope. 1879 Scribner's Monthly Feb. 465/1 The afternoon sky was filling with color. 1961 J. Carew Last Barbarian 285 The afternoon sun was warm and mellow. 2002 Independent 5 Aug. 15/2 The afternoon clouds that pile up so enticingly on the horizon. e. With the sense ‘designating clothing worn or intended to be worn in the afternoon’. ΚΠ 1782 R. Bage Mt. Henneth II. 8 My uncle ordered him to be called. He came in his afternoon dress. 1818 La Belle Assemblée Apr. 176/2 All the paraphernalia requisite for a youthful bride, the laced night-cap, the afternoon hat, and the morning deshabille. 1843 J. L. Stephens Incidents Trav. Yucatan II. viii. 142 The vecinos, in their clean afternoon clothes,..came over to ‘call upon us’. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 22 June 3/2 A simple pretty afternoon gown of blue toile, that mixture of silk and linen. 1927 Weekly Disp. 6 Nov. 16 The afternoon ensemble is by no means dead. 1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Attitudes i. i. 17 The east wind whistled into every open crevice of her afternoon frock. 1992 G. Adair Post-modernist always rings Twice 110 [She] wears a beautiful long-sleeved afternoon coat for most of the performance before switching to a brilliantly beaded evening gown for her final solo. C2. afternoon farmer n. originally English regional (midlands and southern) a farmer who begins work late; a procrastinating or lazy farmer; (in extended use) a lazy person. ΚΠ 1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman June iii. 39 Others, where the Crop is thin, will not hough at all; but these are your Afternoon Farmers, as we call them. 1838 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 315/2 A few of those termed afternoon-farmers, who, let the season be ever so favourable, are always behind hand. 1889 Standard 28 Nov. 2/1 The rain and snow..have come too soon for a few ‘afternoon farmers’, who have not yet put in all their wheat. 1910 W. Raymond Eng. Country Life (1911) xxix. 359 Goodman Rudd was something of an ‘afternoon farmer’, as folk said. 1952 J. Reaney Bully in R. Weaver & H. James Canad. Short Stories 204 He was what is known as an afternoon farmer. He could never get out into the fields till about half-past eleven in the morning. 2005 D. Francis Great Inland Sea 151 My father said Dickie was lazy, called him an afternoon farmer. afternoon man n. (formerly also afternoon's man) (a) a man given to drinking alcohol after the midday meal; a habitual drinker of alcohol; (b) a late or lazy man (cf. afternoon farmer n.). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [noun] > one who drinks to excess houndOE drinkerc1200 keach-cup?c1225 gulchcupa1250 bollerc1320 taverner1340 ale stake?1515 wine-bibber1535 bibber1536 swill-bowl1542 malt-wormc1550 rinse-pitcher1552 bibblera1556 ale knight1556 tosspot1568 ring-pigger1570 troll-the-bowl1575 malt-bug1577 gossip-pint-pot1580 black pot1582 alehouse knight1583 worrier1584 suck-spigot1585 bezzle1592 bezzlera1593 cup-leech1593 soaker1593 carouser1596 barley-cap1598 swiller1598 rob-pot1599 Philistine1600 sponge1600 wine-knight1601 fill-knaga1605 reel-pot1604 faithful1609 fill-pot1609 bouser1611 spigot-sucker1611 suck-pint1611 whip-can1611 bib-all-night1612 afternoon man1615 potling1616 Bacchanalian1617 bombard1617 pot-shot1617 potisuge1620 trougha1625 tumbrila1625 borachioa1627 pot-leech1630 kill-pota1637 biberon1637 bang-pitcher1639 son of Bacchusc1640 shuffler1642 suck-bottlea1652 swill-pot1653 poter1657 potatora1660 old soaker1665 fuddle cap1666 old toast1668 bubber1669 toper1673 ale-toast1691 Bacchant1699 fuddler1699 swill-belly1699 tickle-pitcher1699 whetter1709 draughtsmanc1720 bender1728 drammer1740 dram-drinker1744 drammist1756 rum-bud1805 siper1805 Bacchanal1812 boozera1819 rum-sucker1819 soak1820 imp of the spigot1821 polyposist1821 wineskin1821 sack-guzzler1823 sitfast1828 swill-flagon1829 cup-man1834 swiper1836 Lushington1851 lushing-man1859 bloat1860 pottle pot1860 tipsificator1873 tipsifier1873 pegger1874 swizzler1876 bibulant1883 toss-cup1883 lusher1895 stew-bum1902 shicker1906 stiff1907 souse1915 booze-hound1926 stumblebum1932 tanker1932 lush-hound1935 lushy1944 lush-head1945 binge drinker1946 pisshead1946 hophead1948 1615 T. Overbury et al. New & Choise Characters with Wife (6th impr.) sig. L5 The Play-houses..make him an afternoones man. 1628 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 3) Democritus to Rdr. 43 Beroaldus will haue drunkards, afternoone men, and such as more then ordinarily delight in drinke, to be mad. 1639 R. Ward Animadversions of Warre xiii. ccx. 346 As for the Governour, he was no afternoone-man, this project was cleanly performed, and in their drunken security the Towne was surprized. 1837 R. W. Emerson Jrnl. 19 Sept. (1910) IV. xxviii. 292 I have among my kinsmen a man to whom..I may apply the phrase ‘an afternoon man’. He rolls and riots in delays. 1893 G. L. Gower Gloss. Surrey Words 2 He's pretty much of an afternoon man. 1931 A. Powell (title) Afternoon men. 2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 7 June (Arts & Leisure section) 24/1 In those days [sc. the 1970s] Soho was full of clubs... They existed partly to refresh thirsty ‘afternoon men’ at a time when the pubs were obliged to shut from 3 to 5:30 p.m. afternoon tea n. originally and chiefly British (a) tea drunk in the afternoon; (b) a light afternoon meal or social occasion at which tea is served, now typically together with sandwiches, scones, cakes, etc.; cf. cream tea n. at cream n.² Compounds 1b, high tea n. at high adj. and n.² Compounds 4. ΚΠ 1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xvii. 110 I will go down..and excuse your attendance at afternoon-tea. a1754 H. Fielding Jrnl. Voy. Lisbon (1755) 104 Our ladies..drank their afternoon tea at an alehouse. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate iii I invited them both on the spot to afternoon tea on Saturday. 1921 Spice Mill (N.Y.) June 976/2 The question whether the efficiency of British workers would be impaired were they deprived of their afternoon tea, is one now engaging the attention of some of the leading business concerns in London. 1941 Life 9 June 122/2 He has a curious eccentric habit when drinking his afternoon tea, of balancing his cigaret upright on its unlighted end on the table. 1992 L. Mackley Bk. Afternoon Tea 8/2 Afternoon tea should be a graceful event; an opportunity to display the best china and table linen, and a time for people of all ages to gather together for relaxation and refreshments. 2005 Time Out 7 Dec. 160/4 Proper afternoon tea is served, complete with finger sandwiches, tea loaf, cream cakes, scones and clotted cream. Derivatives afterˈnoony adj. ΚΠ 1873 E. Taylor Quixstar vii. 39 Mr. Sinclair's reflections, as he looked at them, were most likely afternoony in their complexion. 1885 T. H. Huxley Let. 23 Feb. in L. Huxley Life & Lett. T. H. Huxley (1900) II. vi. 96 There is something idle and afternoony about the air which whittles away one's resolution. 2001 M. Joss Fruitful Bodies (2005) i. vii. 50 A lazy, afternoony warmth clung to the shed. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.adv.int.c1330
随便看	to consign to the ashcan of history to consist by to consist in to consist of to consist on or upon to consult one's feelings to consult one's pillow to consult with to consult with one's pillow to consume one's own smoke to contemplate one's navel to content one's mind to continue doing or to do to continue on one's merry way to continue one's merry way to contract acquaintance to contract friendship to contract in to contract oneself out of to contract out to contribute for or to do to contribute to or to do to control one's muscles to control the point to controverse in question