post English · revision 2018

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1000 (Ælfric's Lives of Saints)|origins=la postis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pəʊst/, US /poʊst/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ English has three main words spelled post.^(Cresswell 2021) The upright pole is [[inh|enm|post]], [[inh|ang|post|t=pillar, doorpost]], [[bor|la|postis|t=doorpost, later beam, rod]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) probably a very early borrowing made on the Continent, shared with [[ofs|post]] and [[goh|pfosto]];^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) in Middle English it was reinforced by [[fro|post]] and by [[gml|post]] and [[dum|post]].^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) Latin ''postis'' is perhaps formed from [[m|la|por-|t=forth]] and [[m|la|stāre|t=to stand]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) The position or station is [[frm|poste]], from [[it|posto]], from [[la-vul|*postum]], from [[m|la|positum]], the neuter past participle of [[m|la|pōnere|t=to place, put]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) The mail service comes through the same French word, in the sense “relay station for post horses”, from [[m|it|posta]], from [[m|la-vul|*posta|t=station]], from [[m|la|posita]], the feminine participle of ''pōnere''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) The prefix [[post-]] “after” is a fourth word, from [[m|la|post|t=after, behind]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A pillar or doorpost: Old English ''post'', about 1000, in Ælfric's ''Lives of Saints''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The post as a type of hardness, lifelessness and deafness (''deaf as a post'') is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) To post a notice, by fixing it to a post, is dated 1633 by Merriam-Webster,^(MW Collegiate) the 1630s by Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1650 by Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and to post a score is American sportswriting of 1949.^(Etymonline) The postal sense came first, in 1506, for the places where post horses were kept, and in 1507 for the riders who carried letters in relays;^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) to travel with relays of horses is from 1533,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) and ''to ride post'' “to go fast” from the 1540s.^(Etymonline) The system for carrying letters is recorded in Pepys's diary in 1663,^(Barnhart 1988) a single delivery before 1674,^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb “to send by mail” in 1837.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Barnhart notes that these specific senses came before the general military sense “place where a soldier is stationed” (1598), all being part of the international vocabulary of the new state postal systems.^(Barnhart 1988) A job or office is a ''post'' from the 1690s,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and a fort from 1703.^(Etymonline) In bookkeeping, to post an entry (1620s) is a figurative use from the post horses,^(Etymonline) and to post bail is from 1781.^(Etymonline) ''Postage'' is from 1590,^(Barnhart 1988) and the bugle call ''last post'' from the late 19th century.^(SOED 2002) Several newspapers have been called the ''Post'' since the 1680s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''post'', pillar.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – as a type of deafness.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1506 – a station for post horses.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1507 – a courier.^(Barnhart 1988)^(HTOED)

+ * 1533 – verb, to travel with relays.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590 – ''postage''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1598 – a soldier's station.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1620s – verb, to enter in a ledger.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1633 – verb, to put up a notice.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1663 – the postal system (Pepys).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1683 – verb, to station.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1690s – a job.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1781 – to post bail.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – verb, to mail.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1949 – to post a score.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An upright piece of wood or other material set in the ground as a support or marker.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[goalpost]].^(AHD)

+ # The place where a soldier or guard is stationed.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A military base or [[fort]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A job, especially an appointed office.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # The system for carrying letters; the [[mail]], or a single delivery of it.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # ''(historical)'' A relay station for post horses, or a rider who carried letters between them.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put up (a notice) in public view; to announce publicly.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To score (points or a win).^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To send by mail.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To assign to a station or appointment.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # To enter in a [[ledger]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To travel in haste.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' With speed; by post horse.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[postless]]

+ * [[postlike]]

+ * [[unposted]]

+ * [[poster]]

+ * [[repost]]

+ * [[postage]]

+ * [[post up]]

+ * [[ex post]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[position]]

+ * [[postal]]

+ * [[postpone]]

+ * [[post-]]

+ * [[posture]]

+ * [[deposit]]

+ * [[post-haste]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Minor words with the same spelling include ''post'' in paper-making, a pile of handmade sheets, apparently from German ''Posten'' “batch”,^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) and the old card game ''post and pair''.^(SOED 2002)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}