Definition of ask after

The origin of the phrase "ask after" can be traced back to the Middle English period (around the 14th century) when it was first recorded in written forms. The expression originally meant to inquire or seek information about someone, usually due to a lack of direct contact or communication. The phrase derives from the Old English word "ascan," meaning "to ask" or "to inquire," combined with the Old English preposition "efter," which originally signified "after" in the sense of "in pursuit of" or "behind." Over time, the meaning of "efter" has evolved to represent simply the temporal notion of "after" or "later." In Old English, the phrase "ascan efter" would have been used for queries relating to someone's well-being or location. As the language and culture changed, the phrase evolved and emerged in Middle English as "asken after" before ultimately reducing to its modern form: "ask after." The meaning of the phrase remains the same today, as it continues to express the act of inquiring about someone because direct communication has been interrupted or lost.