1. Later in time; hence, later in the order of proceeding or moving; coming after; — opposed to prior.

Hesiod was posterior to Homer.
Broome.

2. Situated behind; hinder; — opposed to anterior.

3. (Anat.) At or toward the caudal extremity; caudal; — in human anatomy often used for dorsal.

4. (Bot.) On the side next the axis of inflorescence; — said of an axillary flower. Gray.

Posteriority
(Pos*te`ri*or"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. postériorité.] The state of being later or subsequent; as, posteriority of time, or of an event; — opposed to priority.

Posteriorly
(Pos*te"ri*or*ly) adv. Subsequently in time; also, behind in position.

Posteriors
(Pos*te"ri*ors) n. pl. The hinder parts, as of an animal's body. Swift.

Posterity
(Pos*ter"i*ty) n. [L. posteritas: cf. F. postérité. See Posterior.]

1. The race that proceeds from a progenitor; offspring to the furthest generation; the aggregate number of persons who are descended from an ancestor of a generation; descendants; — contrasted with ancestry; as, the posterity of Abraham.

If [the crown] should not stand in thy posterity.
Shak.

2. Succeeding generations; future times. Shak.

Their names shall be transmitted to posterity.
Shak.

Their names shall be transmitted to posterity.
Smalridge.

Postern
(Pos"tern) n. [OF. posterne, posterle, F. poterne, fr. L. posterula, fr. posterus coming after. See Posterior.]

1. Originally, a back door or gate; a private entrance; hence, any small door or gate.

He by a privy postern took his flight.
Spenser.

Out at the postern, by the abbey wall.
Shak.

2. (Fort.) A subterraneous passage communicating between the parade and the main ditch, or between the ditches and the interior of the outworks. Mahan.

Postern
(Pos"tern), a. Back; being behind; private. "The postern door." Dryden.

Postero
(Pos"te*ro)- A combining form meaning posterior, back; as, postero-inferior, situated back and below; postero-lateral, situated back and at the side.

Postexist
(Post`ex*ist") v. i. [Pref. post- + exist.] To exist after; to live subsequently. [Obs. or R.]

Postexistence
(Post`ex*ist"ence) n. Subsequent existence.

Postexistent
(Post`ex*ist"ent) a. Existing or living after. [R.] "Postexistent atoms." Cudworth.

Postfact
(Post"fact`) a. [See Post-, and Fact.] Relating to a fact that occurs after another.

Postfact
(Post"fact`), n. A fact that occurs after another. "Confirmed upon the postfact." Fuller.

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