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Entry 20 senses · 6 variants Webster, 1913

Post

/pōst/ approx. · IPA /poʊst/
01 a. Hired to do what is wrong; suborned.
  1. 1.
    Hired to do what is wrong; suborned.[Obs.]
02 n. A piece of timber, metal, or other solid substance, fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position, especially when intended as a sta…
  1. 1.
    A piece of timber, metal, or other solid substance, fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position, especially when intended as a stay or support to something else; a pillar; as, a hitching post; a fence post; the posts of a house.
    “They shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses.” — Ex. xii. 7.
    “Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore, The gates of Azza, post and massy bar.” — Milton.
    “Unto his order he was a noble post.” — Chaucer.
  2. 2.
    The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt.[Obs.]
    “When God sends coin I will discharge your post.” — S. Rowlands.
Phrases & compounds
From pillar to post — See under Pillar.
Knight of the post — See under Knight.
Post hanger — a bearing for a revolving shaft, adapted to be fastened to a post.
Post hole — a hole in the ground to set the foot of a post in.
Post mill — a form of windmill so constructed that the whole fabric rests on a vertical axis firmly fastened to the ground, and capable of being turned as the direction of the wind varies.
Post and stall — a mode of working in which pillars of coal are left to support the roof of the mine.
03 n. The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station.
  1. 1.
    The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station.
  2. 2.
    A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman.
    “In certain places there be always fresh posts, to carry that further which is brought unto them by the other.” — Abp. Abbot.
    “I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such a worthless post.” — Shak.
  3. 3.
    An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to another; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported.
    “I send you the fair copy of the poem on dullness, which I should not care to hazard by the common post.” — Pope.
  4. 4.
    Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier.[Obs.]
  5. 5.
    One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station.[Obs.]
    “He held office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, post, for several years.” — Palfrey.
  6. 6.
    A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger.
    “The post of honor is a private station.” — Addison.
  7. 7.
    A size of printing and writing paper. See the Table under Paper. See: Paper
Phrases & compounds
Post and pair — an old game at cards, in which each player a hand of three cards.
Post bag — a mail bag.
Post bill — a bill of letters mailed by a postmaster.
Post chaise — a carriage usually with four wheels, for the conveyance of travelers who travel post.
Post day — a day on which the mall arrives or departs.
Post hackney — a hired post horse.
Post horn — a horn, or trumpet, carried and blown by a carrier of the public mail, or by a coachman.
Post horse — a horse stationed, intended, or used for the post.
Post hour — hour for posting letters.
Post office — An office under governmental superintendence, where letters, papers, and other mailable matter, are received and distributed; a place appointed for attending to all business connected with the mail
Postoffice order — See Money order, under Money.
Post road — a road or way over which the mail is carried.
Post town — A town in which post horses are kept
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.
04 v. t. To attach to a post, a wall, or other usual place of affixing public notices; to placard; as, to post a notice; to post playbills.
imp. & p. p. Posted; p. pr. & vb. n. Posting
  1. 1.
    To attach to a post, a wall, or other usual place of affixing public notices; to placard; as, to post a notice; to post playbills.
  2. 2.
    To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation; as, to post one for cowardice.
    “On pain of being posted to your sorrow Fail not, at four, to meet me.” — Granville.
  3. 3.
    To enter (a name) on a list, as for service, promotion, or the like.
  4. 4.
    To assign to a station; to set; to place; as, to post a sentinel.
  5. 5.
    To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account; to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger.(Bookkeeping)
    “You have not posted your books these ten years.” — Arbuthnot.
  6. 6.
    To place in the care of the post; to mail; as, to post a letter.
  7. 7.
    To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; -- often with up.
    “Thoroughly posted up in the politics and literature of the day.” — Lond. Sat. Rev.
Phrases & compounds
To post off — to put off; to delay.
To post over — to hurry over.
05 v. i. To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste.
  1. 1.
    To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste.
    “And post o'er land and ocean without rest.” — Milton.
  2. 2.
    To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, esp. in trotting.(Man.) [Eng.]
06 adv. With post horses; hence, in haste; as, to travel post.
  1. 1.
    With post horses; hence, in haste; as, to travel post.