Chapter Æra to Agag of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Africa semper aliquid novi affert. "Africa is always producing some novelty." A Greek proverb quoted (in Latin) by Pliny, in allusion to the ancient belief that Africa abounded in strange monsters.

African Sisters (The) The Hesperides (4 syl.) who lived in Africa. They were the daughters of Atlas.

Afriet or "Afrit." The beau ideal of what is terrible and monstrous in Arabian superstition. A sort of ghoul or demon. Solomon, we are told, once tamed an Afrit, and made it submissive to his will.

Aft The hinder part of a ship.

Fore and Aft. The entire length (of a ship), from stem to stern.

After-cast A throw of dice after the game is ended; anything done too late.

"Ever he playeth an after-cast
Of all that he shall say or do."
Gower.

After-clap Beware of after-claps. An after-clap is a catastrophe or threat after an affair is supposed to be over. It is very common in thunderstorms to hear a "clap" after the rain subsides, and the clouds break.

"What plaguy mischief and mishaps
Do dog him still with after-claps."
Butler: Hudibras, Pt. i. 3.

After Meat, Mustard In Latin, "Post bellum, auxilium." We have also, "After death, the doctor," which is the German, "Wann der kranke ist todt, so kommt der arztnei" (when the patient's dead, comes the physic). To the same effect is "When the steed is stolen, lock the stable door." Meaning, doing a thing, or offering service when it is too late, or when there is no longer need thereof.

After us, the Deluge "I care not what happens when I am dead and gone." So said Mdme. de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV. (1722--1764). Metternich, the Austrian statesman (1773--1859), is credited with the same: but probably he simply quoted the words of the French marchioness.

Aft-meal An extra meal; a meal taken after and in addition to the ordinary meals.

"At aft-meals who shall pay for the wine?" Thynne: Debate.

Agag in Dryden's satire of Absalom and Achitophel, is meant for Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, the magistrate before whom Titus Oates made his declaration, and was afterwards found barbarously murdered in a ditch near Primrose Hill.

Agag was hewed to pieces by Samuel (1 Sam. xv.).

"And Corah (Titus Oates) might for Agag's murder call
In terms as coarse as Samuel used to Saul."
1.675-- 6.