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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

post

/pəʊst/
A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground; a fencepost; a lightpost.

    Etymology graph

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    • borrowed
    • derived
    • parts
    • meaning component
    • sound component
    • related
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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    Inherited from Middle English post, from Old English post (“pillar, door-post”) and Old French post (“post, upright beam”), both from Latin postis (“door, post, doorpost”).

    Etymology 2

    Borrowed from Middle French poste, from Italian posta (“stopping-place for coaches”), feminine of posto (“placed, situated”).

    Etymology 3

    Probably from French poste.

    Etymology 4

    Learned borrowing from Latin post.

    Etymology 5

    Clipping of post-production.

    Etymology 6

    Clipping of post mortem.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • learned borrowingLatinpost “afterwards”
      • inheritedOld Latinposte
        • inheritedProto-Italic*posti
      • derivedProto-Indo-European*per- “produce, procure, bring forward, bring forth”
        • derived (ultimately)Proto-Indo-European*sóh₂wl̥ “sun”
        • derivedProto-Indo-European*kouHp-nó-
    • inheritedMiddle Englishpost
      • inheritedOld Englishpost
        • borrowedLatinpostis
      • borrowedOld Frenchpost
    • borrowedMiddle Frenchposte
      • derivedItalianposta
        • inheritedLatinpositus
          • derivedLatinpōnō “place, put”
            • inheritedProto-Italic*pozinō
              • partProto-Italic*po “off, away”
              • partProto-Italic*sinō “to put in place”
    • borrowedFrenchposte
    • derivedEnglishpost-production “The stages of film (or audio) production happening between the actual filming (or recording) and th…”
      • partEnglishpost- “after; later.”
      • partEnglishproduction “The act of producing, making or creating something.”
        • inheritedMiddle Englishproduccioun
    • derivedEnglishpost mortem “After death.”

    Words built on it: -post, post-up

    Meanings

    noun
    1. A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground; a fencepost; a lightpost.
    2. A pole erected to mark a spot.
    3. The stakes that mark the beginning or end of a horse race
    4. The doorpost of a victualler's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt.
    5. A goalpost.
    6. A long, narrow piece inserted into a root canal to provide retention for a crown.
    verb
    1. To hang (a notice) in a conspicuous manner for general review.
    2. To announce publicly; to publish.
    3. To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation.
    4. To carry (an account) from the journal to the ledger.
    5. To inform; to give the news to; to make acquainted with the details of a subject; often with up.
    6. To pay (a stake or blind).
    adv
    1. With the post, on post-horses; by a relay of horses (changing at every staging-post); hence, express, with speed, quickly.
    2. Sent via the postal service.
    prep
    1. Synonym of after, particularly used with historical dating.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: post