posthumous
See also: post-humous
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Latin posthumus, a variant spelling of postumus, superlative form of posterus ("coming after"), the "h" added by association with humus ("ground, earth") referring to burial.
Adjective
posthumous (not comparable)
- (originally) Born after the death of one's father.
- Posthumous orphans never even knew their fathers.
- After the death of someone
- The posthumous Medal of Honor was given to the family of the soldier who died in battle.
- Usage note: Posthumous awards are made when the intended recipient dies as a result of the action which merits the award. Even a short time lag between the action and the decision may cause the award to be conferred after death or there may be a longer delay such as when a review board decides to confer an award decades after a war has ended but such awards while they may be post mortem (literally, "after death") are not posthumous awards.
- Taking place after one's own death
- Artists obscure during their life often receive posthumous recognition, too late for them to enjoy.
- In reference to a work, published after the author's death.
- His memoirs were his posthumous revenge on enemies he dared not take on alive.
Derived terms
Related terms
- posthumous execution
- posthumous work
Translations
born after one's father's death
taking place after one's death
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in reference to a work, published after the author's death
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked
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