aftertale

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English aftertale, equivalent to after- +‎ tale. Cognate with Middle Dutch achtertale, achtertaele.

Noun

[edit]

aftertale (plural aftertales)

  1. Evil talk; slander; defamation.
    • 1999, James Joyce, Finnegans Wake:
      Our cad's bit of strife (knee Bareniece Maxwelton) with a quick ear for spittoons (as the aftertale hath it) []
  2. A postscript added to the end of a story.
  3. A postscript added where a story should end.

Antonyms

[edit]
  • (antonym(s) of postscript): foretale
[edit]