after-life

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Existence after death: "after-life" refers to a life or existence believed to follow death, often in religious or spiritual contexts.
   • Later part of life: It can also mean the later portion of a person's life, especially after a significant event or stage.

Usage Examples

• (A belief in existence after physical death.)
• (The later years of her life.)

Advanced Usage

• "the after-life": Used with a definite article to denote a specific concept of post-death existence.

  • The after-life in ancient Egyptian mythology involved a journey through the underworld. (The specific concept of existence after death in that culture.)

• "in the after-life": Referring to a state or period after death.

  • He hoped to meet his loved ones in the after-life. (In the existence after death.)

Variants and Related Words

• Afterlife (n): A common variant spelling (often used interchangeably).

  • The afterlife is a central theme in many spiritual texts. (Same meaning as after-life.)

• Afterworld (n): The world or realm after death.

  • The afterworld is described as a place of peace in some traditions. (The domain of existence after death.)

Synonyms

• Hereafter: a future existence after death.

  • The hereafter is often depicted as a paradise. (A synonym for after-life.)

• Beyond: the unknown state after death.

  • She pondered what lay in the beyond. (A poetic synonym for after-life.)

Related Idioms

• Cross over to the other side: to die and enter an after-life.

  • He believed that when he died, he would cross over to the other side. (Enter the after-life.)

• Meet one's maker: to die and face a divine being in the after-life.

  • She was at peace, ready to meet her maker in the after-life. (To die and enter a religious after-life.)