nachkommen

1) Verb: nachkommen

Meaning (English):

• to comply with, to follow, to meet/fulfill (a request, order, duty, obligation)
• to come after / follow (less common, more literal sense)

Typical usage:

• einer Bitte/Anordnung/Verpflichtung nachkommen = to comply with a request/order/obligation
  Example: Er ist der Aufforderung nachgekommen. = He complied with the request.

Word parts:

• nach- = after, following
• kommen = to come
  So literally: “to come after” → in practice often “to follow through / comply”.

German synonyms:

• (einer Bitte etc.) entsprechen
• (eine Pflicht) erfüllen
• befolgen (especially for rules/orders)
• Folge leisten

German antonyms (depending on context):

• nicht nachkommen / versäumen (to fail to comply)
• missachten (to disregard)
• verweigern (to refuse)

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2) Noun: der/die Nachkomme, die Nachkommen (plural)

Meaning (English):

• descendant(s), offspring, posterity (children, grandchildren, later generations)

Word parts:

• nach- = after
• kommen = to come
  Literally: “those who come after”.

German synonyms:

• Abkömmlinge
• Nachfahren
• Nachwuchs (more “young generation/children,” often informal)

German antonyms (where applicable):

• No direct single-word opposite; depending on context: Vorfahren (ancestors) is the “opposite direction” in time.