afterdinner

1 of 2

noun

obsolete

: afternoon

after-dinner

2 of 2

adjective

af·​ter-din·​ner ˈaf-tər-¦di-nər 

: occurring or done in the time immediately following dinner

—always used before a noun

an after-dinner speech

There are also a number of high-end, aged rums on the market, which make an interesting alternative to brandy as an after-dinner drink.

—Mark Vaughan, Wine Spectator, 31 Jan. 1995

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English after dyner, from after after entry 2 + dyner dinner

First Known Use

Noun

1576, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1633, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!