After a fashion

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
after a fashion
    adv 1: to some extent; not very well; "he speaks French after a
           fashion"
    
from 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.
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            I do not like the fashion of your garments. --Shak.
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   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.
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            The innocent diversions in fashion.   --Locke.
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            As now existing, fashion is a form of social
            regulation analogous to constitutional government as
            a form of political regulation.       --H. Spencer.
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   3. Polite, fashionable, or genteel life; social position;
      good breeding; as, men of fashion.
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   4. Mode of action; method of conduct; manner; custom; sort;
      way. "After his sour fashion." --Shak.
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   {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]
    
from 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

    

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