follow: [OE] Follow is a widespread Germanic verb (German has folgen, for instance, Dutch volgen, Swedish f?lja, and Danish f?lge, pointing to a prehistoric West and North Germanic *flug-), but its ultimate origins are not known
follow (v.)
Middle English folwen, from Old English folgian, fylgian, fylgan "to accompany (especially as a disciple), move in the same direction as; follow after, pursue, move behind in the same direction," also "obey (a rule or law), conform to, act in accordance with; apply oneself to (a practice, trade, or calling)," from Proto-Germanic *fulg- (cognates: Old Saxon folgon, Old Frisian folgia, Middle Dutch volghen, Dutch volgen, Old High German folgen, German folgen, Old Norse fylgja "to follow"). Probably originally a compound, *full-gan, with a sense of "full-going," the sense then shifting to "serve, go with as an attendant" (compare fulfill). Related: Followed; following.
Sense of "accept as leader or guide, obey or be subservient to" was in late Old English. Meaning "come after in time" is from c. 1200; meaning "to result from" (as effect from cause) is from c. 1200. Meaning "to keep up with mentally, comprehend" is from 1690s. Intransitive sense "come or go behind" is from mid-13c. To follow one's nose "go straight on" first attested 1590s. "The full phrase is, 'Follow your nose, and you are sure to go straight.' " [Farmer]. The children's game follow my leader is attested by that name from 1812 (as follow the leader by 1896).
例文
1. "Wait there!" Kathryn rose. 「No,on second thought, follow me.」
「そこで待っていて！」キャサリンは立ち上がった。「いいえ、気が変わりました。ついてきて」
2.He wants companies to follow the European model of social responsibility.
彼は、各社がヨーロッパの会社を手本にして、社会的責任を負うことを望んでいる。
3.He decided on roast chicken and vegetables，with apple pie to follow .
彼は焼き鳥に野菜を添えて、それからアップルパイを注文することにした。
4.A debriefing would follow this operation，to determine where it went wrong.