Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “posterior” come from?

Posterior comes from Latin posterior, comparative form of posterus, meaning "coming after," derived from post, meaning "after," which traces back through Latin poste and postis to Proto-Indo-European pósti and ultimately pós.

posterior (English): Located behind, or towards the rear of an object;...

Definitions

  1. Located behind, or towards the rear of an object;...

Ancestry of “posterior”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinposteriorcoming after, later; next, following; further to...
2Latinposterusfollowing, next, coming after; inferior
3Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
4Latinposteablative singular of postis
5Proto-Italicposti—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “posterior”

  • posteriorly
  • anteroposterior
  • posteriority
  • anteroposteriorly
  • ventroposterior
  • posteriormost
  • midposterior
  • lateroposterior
  • posteriorization
  • mentoposterior
  • apicoposterior
  • dorsoposterior
  • medioposterior
  • centroposterior
  • dorsoposteriorly
  • frontoposterior
  • sinistroposterior
  • nonposterior
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →