Posthumous

The word posthumous [ pɔstu ː m ] (" after death ( entering) " ) or posthumously [ pɔsthu ː m] is used as an adjective or adverb used in connection with publications of works of a deceased author or artist as well as with honors, which take place after the death of a person. Usage example: " The now deceased Oskar Pastior was awarded posthumously the Büchner Prize in 2006. "

It goes back to Latin Postumus (last, superlative of Posterus, below ', see lat post, it'). In classical Latin is called Postumus with regard to life time only, last born ', and Postumus was in this sense a long time also common as a male first name for the last-born. Postumus Only in the specialized terminology of the Roman jurists means in the classical period as well, posthumous ' (that is, after the death of the father), and one speaks in this sense of a posthumous birth. On this special meaning, establishes the reference to the death of another person, builds on the recent use of the word, but then always at the death of the same person is meant, to whom the word is applied.

Since Isidore of Seville was the word meaning secondary to a - incorrect according to linguistic scales - Etymology motivated, which derives the word from humationem post ( after the funeral '). This corresponds to the word posthumous letters, which became common in the Middle Ages in Latin.

The word form is first occupied posthumously in German in the 18th century and the early inseminated English as well as the French equivalent is spelled with h ( posthumous, posthumous ). The letters posthumously, which again approaches the Latin original form, is common only since recently, and currently competes posthumously with the case.

The official spelling rules can both spellings are equal.

Latter day is also the use of Postumus or Posthumus as a nickname for one who was born after the death of his father rulers, such as Ladislaus Postumus.