Aftereffects

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The consequential impacts or results that follow an event, typically affecting health or well-being
2. The lingering effects that remain after an incident, often in the form of physical or psychological symptoms
3. The residual outcomes that persist beyond an initial occurrence, influencing future states or conditions

Etymology: The plural "aftereffects" is simply the form of "aftereffect," so the history is that of its two parts. The first, "after," is a word English has used since Old English, when it was "æfter," descended from a Proto-Germanic root that also gave German "after" and Dutch "achter" in related senses. The second, "effect," arrived through Old French "effect" and Latin "effectus," a noun built from "efficere," meaning "to bring about" or "to accomplish," itself a compound of "ex" ("out") and "facere" ("to make" or "do"). In Latin, then, an effect was literally something made to come out of a cause. "Aftereffect" is a plain English compound, formed by joining "after-" to "effect." Its meaning follows the sense of its parts: a result that comes later, after the main event has passed. That sense of lingering consequence explains why the word is now applied to the physical or psychological symptoms that persist once an incident is over.

Synonyms: repercussions, consequences, results, outcomes, aftermath

Antonyms: causes, antecedents, predecessors, origins, sources