Posthumous

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈpÉ’s.tʃə.mÉ™s/, /ˈpÉ’s.tʃʊ.mÉ™s/

Alternative forms

• post-humous

Origin

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.

Full definition of posthumous

Adjective

1. (originally) Born after the death of one's father.''Posthumous orphans never even knew their fathers.
2. After the death of someoneThe posthumous 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.
3. Taking place after one's own deathArtists obscure during their life often receive posthumous recognition, too late for them to enjoy.
4. 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

• posthumous execution
• posthumously
• posthumousness
• posthumous work