Postscriptum

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

• post scriptum; postscript
• PS (which see for a list of its alternative forms)

Origin

From Latin postscriptum, from post ("after, behind") + scrīptum ("text; something written").

Full definition of postscriptum

Noun

1. (rare) (A thing which has been) written afterwards, appended.
• 1827, M. Corbett, The odd volume, containing a letter purporting to be from King James VI of Scotland to Sandie Fotheringhame, Laird o'Powrie, signed: James, R.Postscriptum. — Scotland for ever! The Dane’s beneath the table, and Rab’s on the tap o’t, blawing like the deevil.
• 1900, Honoré de Balzac, Anatole Cerfberr, La Comédie Humaine: Now for the First Time Completely Translated Into EnglishThis confidence so daintily tossed to the baron, in the fashion of a postscriptum, was evidently the compensation for five thousand francs.
• 2004, L. G. Aslamazov, A. A. Varlamov, The Wonders Of PhysicsPostscriptum for taxpayers: After having started with the high-temperature thriller we turned to applications of conventional superconductors.

Usage notes

Used to indicate a footnote at the end of a letter. Generally abbreviated PS or similar (ps, p.s., etc).

Addenda following an initial post script are often abbreviated PPS or similar (p.p.s, P.P.S, etc), indicating "post post scriptum".