Assistance or support given after an initial event or crisis has occurred; aid provided in the recovery phase.
From Old English 'æfter' (after) + 'help' (from Germanic roots meaning to grasp, seize). A compound showing Old English compositional patterns.
In medieval times, 'afterhelp' referred to both practical aid to disaster survivors and the spiritual comfort offered to the dying—it shows how one word could encompass physical and emotional support.
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