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posthumous
[ pos-chuh-muhs, -choo- ]
/ ˈpɒs tʃə məs, -tʃʊ- /
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adjective
arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death: a posthumous award for bravery.
published after the death of the author: a posthumous novel.
born after the death of the father.
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Origin of posthumous
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin postumus “last-born, born after the death of the father” (in form a superlative of posterus; see posterior); post-classical spelling with h by association with humus “ground, earth,” as if referring to burial
OTHER WORDS FROM posthumous
post·hu·mous·ly, adverbpost·hu·mous·ness, nounnon·post·hu·mous, adjectiveWords nearby posthumous
posthole, posthole digger, post horn, post horse, post house, posthumous, posthumously, posthypnotic, posthypnotic suggestion, postical, postiche
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use posthumous in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for posthumous
posthumous
/ (ˈpɒstjʊməs) /
adjective
happening or continuing after one's death
(of a book, etc) published after the author's death
(of a child) born after the father's death
Derived forms of posthumous
posthumously, adverbWord Origin for posthumous
C17: from Latin postumus the last, but modified as though from Latin post after + humus earth, that is, after the burial
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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