English
after-action
From after + action.
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó ‘off, away’
…
Proto-Germanic *after ‘after, behind’
Proto-West Germanic *aftar
Old English æfter ‘after’
Middle English after
English after
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-
…
Latin āctus
Latin āctiō ‘act of doing or making’
Old French aucion ‘action’
Middle English accioun ‘an action’
English action
Today it means
adj Written retrospectively on a given sequence of goal-oriented actions previously taken, especially if by the author himself. (of a report, analysis, etc.)
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / after-action