Wordnet 3.0
ADVERB (1)
1.
to some extent;
not very well;
- Example: "he speaks French after a fashion"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fashion \Fash"ion\, n. [OE. fasoun, facioun, shape, manner, F.
facon, orig., a making, fr. L. factio a making, fr. facere to
make. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Faction.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The make or form of anything; the style, shape,
appearance, or mode of structure; pattern, model; as, the
fashion of the ark, of a coat, of a house, of an altar,
etc.; workmanship; execution.
[1913 Webster]
The fashion of his countenance was altered. --Luke
ix. 29.
[1913 Webster]
I do not like the fashion of your garments. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. The prevailing mode or style, especially of dress; custom
or conventional usage in respect of dress, behavior,
etiquette, etc.; particularly, the mode or style usual
among persons of good breeding; as, to dress, dance, sing,
ride, etc., in the fashion.
[1913 Webster]
The innocent diversions in fashion. --Locke.
[1913 Webster]
As now existing, fashion is a form of social
regulation analogous to constitutional government as
a form of political regulation. --H. Spencer.
[1913 Webster]
3. Polite, fashionable, or genteel life; social position;
good breeding; as, men of fashion.
[1913 Webster]
4. Mode of action; method of conduct; manner; custom; sort;
way. "After his sour fashion." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
After a fashion, to a certain extent; of a sort; sort of.
Fashion piece (Naut.), one of the timbers which terminate
the transom, and define the shape of the stern.
Fashion plate, a pictorial design showing the prevailing
style or a new style of dress.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
after a fashion
adv 1: to some extent; not very well; "he speaks French after a
fashion"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
45 Moby Thesaurus words for "after a fashion":
appreciably, at any rate, at best, at least, at most, at the least,
at the most, at the outside, at worst, by some means,
comparatively, detectably, fairly, in a manner, in a way, in part,
in some measure, in some way, incompletely, leastwise, merely,
mildly, moderately, modestly, no matter how, not comprehensively,
not exhaustively, only, part, partially, partly, pro tanto, purely,
relatively, simply, so far, somehow, somehow or other, someway,
somewhat, thus far, to a degree, to some degree, tolerably,
visibly