look after

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look after (third-person singular simple present looks after, present participle looking after, simple past and past participle looked after)

1. (transitive) To follow with the eyes; to look in the direction of (someone or something departing). [from 10th c.]
2. (transitive, now regional) To seek out, to look for. [from 14th c.]
   • 1695, John Woodward, “(please specify the page)”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: And Terrestrial Bodies, Especially Minerals: […], London: […] Ric[hard] Wilkin […], →OCLC:

     My subject does not necessarily oblige me to look after this water, or point forth the place whereunto 'tis now retreated.

   • 1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, II.4:

     I have sent my intended husband to look after my lover […] .

   • 1893, Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance:

     If they are not married, they should be looking after a wife.

   • 2005, J. M. Coetzee, “Three”, in Slow Man, New York: Viking, →ISBN, page 19:

     Sliding through the world: that is how, in a bygone age, they used to designate lives like his: looking after his interests, quietly prospering, attracting no attention.

3. (transitive, also reflexive) To care for; to keep safe. [from 14th c.]

   He asked me to look after his daughter while he was away.

   • 2022 January 12, Paul Bigland, “Fab Four: the nation's finest stations”, in RAIL, number 948, page 27:

     The station is clearly well looked after, making it a worthy gateway to the resort.

   • 2022 April 6, “Network News: Booze ban continues as part of move to prioritise women's safety”, in RAIL, number 954, page 6:

     "And I thought: if muggins here, a 37-year-old government minister who can look after myself, feels that way, then we need to really think about how we're putting in place a level of protection for women.

4. (transitive) To have as one's business; to manage, be responsible for. [from 16th c.]

   Coordinate term: look over

5. (transitive, obsolete) To expect, look forward to. [14th–18th c.]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 21:26:

     Mens hearts failing them for feare, and for looking after those things which are comming on the earth; For the powers of heauen shall be shaken.

• the devil looks after his own

• afterlook