anteposthumous
|an-te-post-hu-mous|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈpɑːs.tʃə.məs/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈpɒs.tʃə.məs/
before death (rare/archaic)
Etymology
'anteposthumous' originates from the Latin prefix 'ante-' meaning 'before' combined with the adjective 'posthumous' (from Latin roots), where 'posthumous' in popular form relates to 'post-' meaning 'after'.
'anteposthumous' was formed in English by prefixing 'ante-' to 'posthumous' (it appears as a rare/nonce or jocular formation in modern English); 'posthumous' itself descends via Old French and Middle English from Latin 'postumus' (later influenced by 'post humus' in folk etymology).
Initially coined to denote something occurring before death (or used paradoxically), the word has remained very rare and is chiefly archaic or humorous in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
rare/archaic. Occurring before death; existing or taking place during a person's lifetime (used in contrast to 'posthumous').
The term anteposthumous was used by the editor to indicate works issued while the author was still alive.
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Adjective 2
rare/figurative. Paradoxical or jocular usage implying something both before and after death, or ambiguous timing with respect to death.
In a playful essay he called his memoir anteposthumous, suggesting it belonged both to life and legacy.
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Last updated: 2025/08/22 22:21