Post

n. [A-S., D., Dan., & Sw. post, Ger. posten, pfoste, Fr. poste, O. Fr. & Pr. post, Sp. & Pg. poste, posta, It. posta, posto, Lat. postis, allied to ponere, positum, to place.]

1Sense 1. A piece of timber, metal, or other solid substance, placed firmly in an upright position, especially as a stay or support to something else; a pillar; as, a cedar post; a granite post.

Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore, The gates of Azza, post, and massy bar. Milton.

2Sense 2. Hence, the place at which any thing is stayed or fixed; a station; especially, (a.) A military station; the place at which a body of troops is permanently fixed. (b.) A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route; as, a railway post, and the like.

3Sense 3. One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station. [Obs.]

He held the office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, of post, for several years. Palfrey.

4Sense 4. An office or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, to put a sentinel on his post; the post of danger.

When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honor is a private station. Addison.

5Sense 5. [Fr. poste, Sp., Pg., & It. posta, Ger. post.] A messenger who goes from station to station; one who regularly carries letters from one place to another; a letter-carrier; an express; a postman.

In certain places there be always fresh posts to carry that further which is brought unto them by the other. Abbot.

6Sense 6. An established conveyance for letters; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported.

7Sense 7. A sort of writing paper much used for letters.

From post to pillar, or from pillar to post, from one position to another. [Obs.] “Manifold ways was he troubled, tossed, and turmoiled, from post to pillar, by the popish bishops.” Latimer.—Knight of the post. See KNIGHT.—Post and pair, a game formerly played at cards, in which each player had a hand of three cards. B. Jonson.—To ride post, to ride, as a carrier of dispatches, from place to place; hence, to ride rapidly, with as little delay as possible.—To travel post, to travel, as a post does, by relays of horses, or by keeping one carriage to which fresh horses are attached at each stopping-place;—a mode of traveling formerly common, but now rarely practiced.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. POSTED; p. pr. & vb. n. POSTING.]

1Sense 1. To attach to a sign-post or other usual place of affixing public notices; to advertise; as, to post a notice.

2Sense 2. Especially, to hold up to public fame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; as, to post one for cowardice.

On pain of being posted to your sorrow Fail not at four to meet me. Granville.

3Sense 3. To assign to a station; to set; to place; as, to post a sentinel.

As in a more exalted family, it might be to obtain a ship for a lieutenant, &c., or to get him posted. De Quincey.

4Sense 4. To cause to go by the post; to put in the mail; to deposit in the post-office; as, to post a letter.

5Sense 5. (Book-keeping.) To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account;—to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger; as, to post from books.

You have not posted your books these ten years. Arbuthnot.

6Sense 6. To acquaint with what has occurred; to inform;—often with up. [Colloq.]

To post off, to put off; to delay. “Why did I, venturously, post off so great a business?” Baxter.—To post over, to hurry over. [Obs.]

What shame and the honor of the court . . . would not permit to be done publicly . . . was posted over by a judge, privately, in a corner. Fuller.

A Latin preposition, much used in composition as a prefix, signifying after.