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Welcome to Lesson 164 of the Latinum Institute Classical Latin Course. Today we examine post, one of Latin’s essential temporal and spatial prepositions, ranked 164th in the Dickinson College Core Vocabulary. This word governs the accusative case and means primarily “after” in time and secondarily “behind” in space.
For English speakers, post is immediately recognizable through countless English derivatives and borrowings: post-war, posthumous, posterior, postpone, post meridiem (PM). This Latin preposition has left an indelible mark on English vocabulary, making it one of the more accessible Latin words for beginners.
Post forms a natural opposition with ante (before), creating a fundamental pair for expressing temporal and spatial relationships. Understanding both words together reinforces comprehension of Latin’s systematic approach to prepositions.
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FAQ: What does “post” mean in Latin? The Latin word post means “after” when referring to time (post bellum = after the war) or “behind” when referring to space (post tergum = behind the back). It always governs the accusative case when used as a preposition, and can also function as an adverb meaning “afterwards” or “later.”
In this lesson, we shall examine post through 30 contextualized examples demonstrating its temporal and spatial applications, its adverbial usage, and its appearance in classical literature.
Key Takeaways: -
Post governs the accusative case exclusively when used as a preposition -
Primary meaning: “after” (temporal) — post cenam = after dinner -
Secondary meaning: “behind” (spatial) — post tergum = behind the back -
Can function as an adverb meaning “afterwards, later” -
Forms a natural pair with ante (before) -
Appears in many compounds: postea, postquam, postridie, posterus
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post [post] — The vowel is short, and the final -st cluster is pronounced crisply. In Classical pronunciation, the ‘o’ is a pure short vowel, not diphthongized as in some English words.
IPA: /post/
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163.16 “Quid what est,” is inquit says-3SG magister, teacher-NOM “sapientia?” wisdom-NOM
163.17 “Scientia,” knowledge-NOM inquit says-3SG prīmus first-NOM discipulus, student-NOM “rērum of-things-GEN omnium.” of-all-GEN
163.18 “At,” but inquit says-3SG secundus, second-NOM “nōn not omnia all-ACC scīre to-know possumus.” are-able-1PL
163.19 “Vērum true-ACC dīcis,” say-2SG inquit says-3SG magister. teacher-NOM
163.20 “Quid what igitur?” therefore inquiunt say-3PL discipulī. students-NOM
163.21 “Sapientia,” wisdom-NOM inquit says-3SG ille, that-one-NOM “est is amor love-NOM vēritātis.” of-truth-GEN
163.22 “Sed but vēritās,” truth-NOM inquam, say-I-1SG “difficilis difficult-NOM inventū to-find-SUPINE est.” is
163.23 “Ita,” so inquit, says-3SG “sed but quaerenda must-be-sought-NOM tamen.” nevertheless
163.24 “Quōmodo,” how inquit says-3SG tertius, third-NOM “eam her-ACC quaerāmus?” may-we-seek-SUBJ
163.25 “Dīligenter,” carefully inquit says-3SG magister, teacher-NOM “et and cum with humilitāte.” humility-ABL
163.26 “Nōnne,” not-Q inquit says-3SG discipulus, student-NOM “sapientēs wise-ones-NOM omnēs all-NOM fēlīcēs happy-NOM sunt?” are
163.27 “Minimē,” not-at-all inquit says-3SG magister. teacher-NOM
163.28 “Cūr why nōn?” not inquiunt say-3PL omnēs. all-NOM
163.29 “Quia,” because inquit, says-3SG “sapientia wisdom-NOM dolōrem pain-ACC nōn not tollit.” removes
163.30 “Grātiās thanks-ACC tibi to-you-DAT agimus,” give-1PL inquiunt say-3PL discipulī, students-NOM “magister.” teacher-VOC
e tree) - 164.15: Post tergum (behind the back)
- POST always takes the accusative case (never ablative) - The meaning depends on context: - Temporal: "after (in time)" - Spatial: "behind (in place)" - Both uses are prepositions requiring an object in the accusative ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
164.1 Post cenam ambulamus. “We walk after dinner.”
164.2 Milites post proelium quiescunt. “The soldiers rest after the battle.”
164.3 Post multos annos redit. “He returns after many years.”
164.4 Rex post victoriam triumphavit. “The king celebrated a triumph after the victory.”
164.5 Post haec verba dixit. “After these things, he spoke.”
164.6 Servus post dominum stat. “The slave stands behind his master.”
164.7 Post mortem gloria venit. “Glory comes after death.”
164.8 Consul post bellum rediit. “The consul returned after the war.”
164.9 Hostes post murum latent. “The enemies hide behind the wall.”
164.10 Post tres dies profecti sunt. “They set out after three days.”
164.11 Puer post arborem se celat. “The boy hides himself behind the tree.”
164.12 Post meridiem dormiunt. “They sleep after midday.”
164.13 Femina post laborem cantat. “The woman sings after her work.”
164.14 Legati post pacem venerunt. “The envoys came after the peace.”
164.15 Gladius post tergum celatur. “The sword is hidden behind the back.”
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164.1 Post cenam ambulamus.
164.2 Milites post proelium quiescunt.
164.3 Post multos annos redit.
164.4 Rex post victoriam triumphavit.
164.5 Post haec verba dixit.
164.6 Servus post dominum stat.
164.7 Post mortem gloria venit.
164.8 Consul post bellum rediit.
164.9 Hostes post murum latent.
164.10 Post tres dies profecti sunt.
164.11 Puer post arborem se celat.
164.12 Post meridiem dormiunt.
164.13 Femina post laborem cantat.
164.14 Legati post pacem venerunt.
164.15 Gladius post tergum celatur.
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Grammar Rules for POST in this Passage:
1. Case Governance
The preposition post exclusively governs the accusative case. This is invariable. There is no ablative usage with post, unlike some prepositions such as in or sub which can take either case depending on meaning.
Pattern: POST + ACCUSATIVE
Examples from the passage: -
post cenam (cenam = accusative singular of cena) -
post bellum (bellum = accusative singular of bellum) -
post multos annos (multos annos = accusative plural) -
post victoriam (victoriam = accusative singular of victoria)
2. Temporal Meaning: “After”
The primary and most frequent meaning of post is temporal, indicating that something occurs after a point in time or after an event. This accounts for approximately 85% of its usage in Classical Latin.
Common temporal patterns: -
post + event noun: post bellum (after the war), post cenam (after dinner) -
post + time duration: post tres dies (after three days), post multos annos (after many years) -
post + demonstrative: post haec (after these things), post ea (after those things)
3. Spatial Meaning: “Behind”
The secondary meaning indicates position behind something or someone. This spatial usage is less frequent but important.
Common spatial patterns: -
post tergum (behind the back) -
post murum (behind the wall) -
post arborem (behind the tree) -
post dominum (behind the master)
4. The Ante-Post Opposition
Latin frequently pairs ante (before) with post (after): -
ante bellum / post bellum (before the war / after the war) -
ante cenam / post cenam (before dinner / after dinner) -
ante omnia / post omnia (before all things / after all things)
Both prepositions govern the accusative and can function as adverbs.
5. Adverbial Usage
Post can also function as an adverb meaning “afterwards” or “later”: -
paulo post = a little later -
multo post = much later -
post venit = he came afterwards
When used adverbially, it often appears with degree modifiers (paulo, multo, longe) or stands alone.
6. Compounds and Derivatives
Post forms numerous important compounds: -
postea (adverb) = afterwards, after that -
postquam (conjunction) = after (introduces temporal clause) -
postridie (adverb) = on the following day -
posterus, -a, -um (adjective) = following, next -
posterior, -ius (comparative adjective) = later, following -
postremus, -a, -um (superlative adjective) = last, final
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Error: Using ablative with post (*post bello) Correct: post bellum (accusative only)
Error: Confusing post with propter post = after (temporal) or behind (spatial) propter = because of, on account of (causal)
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Reminder: This lesson is designed for English speakers learning Classical Latin.
Temporal Marking in Roman Culture
The Romans were meticulous record-keepers, and post appears constantly in their historical and legal writings for establishing chronological sequence. The phrase post urbem conditam (after the founding of the city) served as Rome’s primary dating system, calculating years from the legendary founding of Rome in 753 BCE.
Post Meridiem and Time-Keeping
The familiar abbreviation PM (post meridiem = after midday) derives directly from Latin. Romans divided the day at noon, with the hours before called ante meridiem (AM) and those after post meridiem (PM). This system, inherited through medieval Latin usage, remains universal in English-speaking countries.
Post Mortem and Legal/Medical Usage
The phrase post mortem (after death) became a technical term in both legal and medical contexts. A post mortem examination investigates death after the fact. The concept that glory might come post mortem (as in example 164.7) was a significant Roman philosophical notion — many believed that true honor and lasting fame could only be assessed after one’s death.
Military Usage
In military contexts, post frequently appears in tactical descriptions. Soldiers hiding post murum (behind the wall) or reserves stationed post aciem (behind the battle line) are common in historical narratives like Caesar’s Bellum Gallicum.
Formal Register
Post maintains a neutral to formal register. It appears equally in high oratory (Cicero), historical prose (Caesar, Livy), and epic poetry (Virgil). Its compounds like postquam (after, when) are standard in complex subordinate clauses across all registers.
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From Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV, lines 19-20
This passage comes from Dido’s confession to her sister Anna about her feelings for Aeneas. She speaks of her late husband Sychaeus, murdered by her own brother Pygmalion.
Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Anna Anna-VOC (fatebor I-shall-confess enim) for miseri wretched-GEN post after fata fate-ACC Sychaei of-Sychaeus-GEN coniugis husband-GEN
et and sparsos scattered-ACC fraterna by-brotherly-ABL caede slaughter-ABL penates household-gods-ACC
solus alone-NOM hic this-one-NOM inflexit bent sensus feelings-ACC animumque and-mind-ACC labantem wavering-ACC impulit drove
Part F-B: The Text with Translation
Anna (fatebor enim) miseri post fata Sychaei coniugis et sparsos fraterna caede penates solus hic inflexit sensus animumque labantem impulit.
“Anna (for I shall confess), after the death of my wretched husband Sychaeus and the household gods scattered by my brother’s slaughter, this man alone has bent my feelings and driven my wavering heart.”
Part F-C: Latin Text Only
Anna (fatebor enim) miseri post fata Sychaei coniugis et sparsos fraterna caede penates solus hic inflexit sensus animumque labantem impulit.
Part F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Commentary
In this passage, post takes the accusative fata (fates, death — neuter plural of fatum). The word fata is frequently used in poetry to mean “death” or “doom,” drawing on the connection between fate and one’s appointed end.
The genitives miseri... Sychaei and coniugis all modify fata: “after the death of my wretched husband Sychaeus.” This demonstrates post in its most common temporal usage, marking the point after which something occurs.
Vocabulary: -
fateor, fateri, fassus sum = to confess, admit -
fata, -orum (n. pl.) = fates, destiny; often = death -
coniunx, coniugis (m./f.) = spouse, husband, wife -
spargere = to scatter -
fraternus, -a, -um = of a brother, brotherly -
caedes, -is (f.) = slaughter, murder -
penates, -ium (m. pl.) = household gods -
inflectere = to bend, turn -
sensus, -us (m.) = feeling, sense -
labans, -antis = wavering, tottering -
impellere = to drive, push, urge
Part F-E: Literary Context
Virgil’s Aeneid Book IV presents one of literature’s most tragic love stories. Dido, the widowed queen of Carthage, has sworn fidelity to her murdered husband Sychaeus. Yet after meeting Aeneas, she finds her resolve weakening.
The phrase post fata Sychaei establishes the temporal marker that makes Dido’s confession so poignant: she has remained faithful since her husband’s death, and only now, after all this time, has someone (solus hic = “this man alone”) shaken her constancy.
Virgil’s choice of fata rather than simply mortem adds layers of meaning. Sychaeus’s death was fated, part of the divine machinery that would eventually bring Aeneas to Carthage. The same fates that killed Sychaeus have now brought this new complication into Dido’s life.
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The following examples present post in the context of a historical narrative describing events after a Roman military campaign, the natural habitat for this temporal preposition.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
These sentences demonstrate the use of post (after) in various constructions with different cases and time expressions. Here's a breakdown:
164.16-164.25: Post takes the accusative when indicating "after a period of time": - post pugnam - after the battle - post hanc victoriam - after this victory - post longum iter - after a long march - post decem dies - after ten days - post bellum - after the war
164.26-164.30: Post functions as an adverb meaning "afterwards/later": - post (164.26) - "afterwards" - multo post (164.27) - "much later" (ablative of degree of difference) - paulo post (164.29) - "a little afterwards" - postea (164.30) - "afterwards" (alternative adverbial form)
- When post is a preposition, it takes the accusative - When post is an adverb, it stands alone or with ablatives of degree - Postea is an adverbial form (164.30) - The perfect passive participle + sunt constructs the passive voice throughout
- Military/triumph theme (battles, soldiers, legions, spoils) - Sequential narrative structure using post - Mix of immediate (decem dies) and indefinite (multo post) time references Part B: Natural Sentences
164.16 Post pugnam dux milites laudavit. “After the battle, the general praised the soldiers.”
164.17 Vulnerati post aciem curati sunt. “The wounded were cared for after the battle line.”
164.18 Post hanc victoriam fama Romae crevit. “After this victory, the fame at Rome grew.”
164.19 Imperator post proelium epistulam ad senatum misit. “The commander sent a letter to the senate after the battle.”
164.20 Milites post longum iter tandem requieverunt. “The soldiers finally rested after the long march.”
164.21 Post decem dies exercitus Romam rediit. “After ten days, the army returned to Rome.”
164.22 Captivi post carros ducti sunt. “The prisoners were led behind the wagons.”
164.23 Post haec consul triumphum egit. “After these events, the consul celebrated a triumph.”
164.24 Spoliaque post aquilas portabantur. “And the spoils were carried behind the standards.”
164.25 Post bellum pax cum hostibus facta est. “After the war, peace was made with the enemies.”
164.26 Legiones post hiberna iterum profectae sunt. “The legions set out again after winter quarters.”
164.27 Multo post haec scripta sunt. “These things were written much later.”
164.28 Post mortem ducis filius imperium accepit. “After the death of the general, his son received the command.”
164.29 Paulo post nuntii venerunt. “A little later, the messengers came.”
164.30 Postea res publicae mutatae sunt. “Afterwards, public affairs were changed.”
Part C: Latin Text Only
164.16 Post pugnam dux milites laudavit.
164.17 Vulnerati post aciem curati sunt.
164.18 Post hanc victoriam fama Romae crevit.
164.19 Imperator post proelium epistulam ad senatum misit.
164.20 Milites post longum iter tandem requieverunt.
164.21 Post decem dies exercitus Romam rediit.
164.22 Captivi post carros ducti sunt.
164.23 Post haec consul triumphum egit.
164.24 Spoliaque post aquilas portabantur.
164.25 Post bellum pax cum hostibus facta est.
164.26 Legiones post hiberna iterum profectae sunt.
164.27 Multo post haec scripta sunt.
164.28 Post mortem ducis filius imperium accepit.
164.29 Paulo post nuntii venerunt.
164.30 Postea res publicae mutatae sunt.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This historical narrative section demonstrates several important patterns:
Temporal Sequences: The narrative moves chronologically using post to mark each subsequent event: post pugnam → post victoriam → post bellum. This is characteristic of Roman historical writing.
Duration Expressions: Example 164.21 (post decem dies) shows post with a numeral and time unit in the accusative, a standard pattern for expressing “after X days/years.”
Spatial Usage: Examples 164.22 (post carros) and 164.24 (post aquilas) demonstrate the spatial meaning “behind” — prisoners marched behind the wagons, spoils carried behind the military standards.
Adverbial Usage: Examples 164.27 (multo post), 164.29 (paulo post), and 164.30 (postea) show post functioning adverbially. Note how degree modifiers (multo, paulo) combine with post to create “much later” and “a little later.”
The Compound Postea: Example 164.30 uses postea (afterwards), the most common compound of post, demonstrating its function as a temporal connector in narrative.
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Post presents no significant pronunciation challenges for English speakers: -
Vowel: Short ‘o’ as in English “pot” -
Consonant cluster: -st pronounced clearly -
IPA: /post/
Related Forms to Learn: -
postea /ˈpos.te.a/ — afterwards -
postquam /ˈpost.kwam/ — after (conjunction) -
postridie /pos.ˈtri.di.eː/ — on the next day -
posterus /ˈpos.te.rus/ — following, next -
posterior /pos.ˈte.ri.or/ — later (comparative) -
postremus /posˈtreː.mus/ — last (superlative)
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This lesson is part of the Universal Language Learning system, which presents vocabulary in frequency order based on the Dickinson College Core Vocabulary list. By learning the most common words first, students build comprehension rapidly while encountering authentic Latin usage from the earliest stages.
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