posthumous
adjUK /ˈpɒs.t͡ʃʊ.məs/ · US /ˈpɑs.t͡ʃə.məs/
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.
1
After the death of someone.
- The most favorable posthumous history the stay-at-home traitor can hope for is—oblivion.1885, Ulysses S. Grant, “Chapter IV”, in The Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, New York, United States: Charles L. Webster & Co., page 68:
2
Taking place after one's own death.
- Artists obscure during their life often receive posthumous recognition, too late for them to enjoy.
3
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.
- Eight posthumous albums have been released to date – two more than the man managed in his lifetime – often with conspiracy-baiting titles such as Still I Rise and Tupac Resurrection.2012 April 17, Alex Macpherson, “Tupac's hologram reflects another milestone in his mythology”, in The Guardian:
4
In reference to a musical opus, published or initially performed after the composer's death.
5
Born after the death of one's father.
- Posthumous orphans never even knew their fathers.
- Synonyms
- post mortem, post obitum
- Antonyms
- antemortem, anthumous, predeath, prehumous, premortem
- Derived terms
- nonposthumous, posthumous execution, posthumously, posthumous marriage, posthumous name, posthumousness, posthumous work