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Posthumous vs Postumous - What's the difference?

posthumous | postumous |

As adjectives the difference between posthumous and postumous

is that posthumous is (originally) born after the death of one's father while postumous is .

posthumous

English

Alternative forms

* post-humous

Adjective

(-)
  • (originally) Born after the death of one's father.
  • ''Posthumous orphans never even knew their fathers.
  • After the death of someone
  • The posthumous was given to the family of the soldier who died in battle.
    Usage note: Posthumous awards are made when the intended recipient dies as a result of the action which merits the award. Even a short time lag between the action and the decision may cause the award to be conferred after death or there may be a longer delay such as when a review board decides to confer an award decades after a war has ended but such awards while they may be ''post mortem'' (literally, "after death") are not posthumous awards.
  • Taking place after one's own death
  • Artists obscure during their life often receive posthumous recognition, too late for them to enjoy.
  • 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.

    Derived terms

    * posthumous execution * posthumously * posthumousness * posthumous work

    postumous

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (Webster 1913)