Pospolite - Postaxial

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Pospolite (?), n. [Pol. pospolite ruszenie a general summons to arms, an arriere-ban; pospolity general + ruszenie a stirring.] A kind of militia in Poland, consisting of the gentry, which, in case of invasion, was summoned to the defense of the country.
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Poss (?), v. t. [See .] To push; to dash; to throw. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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A cat . . . possed them [the rats] about. Piers Plowman.
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Posse (?), n. See .
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Coloq. In posse . See in the Vocabulary.
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Posse comitatus (?). [L. posse to be able, to have power + LL. comitatus a county, from comes, comitis, a count. See , and .]
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1. (Law) The power of the county, or the citizens who may be summoned by the sheriff to assist the authorities in suppressing a riot, or executing any legal precept which is forcibly opposed. Blackstone.
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2. A collection of people; a throng; a rabble. [Colloq.]
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☞ The word comitatus is often omitted, and posse alone used. “A whole posse of enthusiasts.” Carlyle.
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As if the passion that rules were the sheriff of the place, and came off with all the posse. Locke.
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Possess (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Possessed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Possessing.] [L. possessus, p. p. of possidere to have, possess, from an inseparable prep. (cf. ) + sedere to sit. See .] 1. To occupy in person; to hold or actually have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold.
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Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. Jer. xxxii. 15.
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Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power,
After offense returning, to regain
Love once possessed. Milton.
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2. To have the legal title to; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own; to have; as, to possess property, an estate, a book.
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I am yours, and all that I possess. Shak.
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3. To obtain occupation or possession of; to accomplish; to gain; to seize.
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How . . . to possess the purpose they desired. Spenser.
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4. To enter into and influence; to control the will of; to fill; to affect; -- said especially of evil spirits, passions, etc. “Weakness possesseth me.” Shak.
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Those which were possessed with devils. Matt. iv. 24.
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For ten inspired, ten thousand are possessed. Roscommon.
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5. To put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively.
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I have possessed your grace of what I purpose. Shak.
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Record a gift . . . of all he dies possessed
Unto his son. Shak.
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We possessed our selves of the kingdom of Naples. Addison.
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To possess our minds with an habitual good intention. Addison.
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Syn. -- To have; hold; occupy; control; own. -- , . Have is the more general word. To possess denotes to have as a property. It usually implies more permanence or definiteness of control or ownership than is involved in having. A man does not possess his wife and children: they are (so to speak) part of himself. For the same reason, we have the faculties of reason, understanding, will, sound judgment, etc.: they are exercises of the mind, not possessions.
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Possession (?), n. [F. possession, L. possessio.] 1. The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.
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2. (Law) The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.
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☞ Possession may be either actual or constructive; actual, when a party has the immediate occupancy; constructive, when he has only the right to such occupancy.
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3. The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions.
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When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matt. xix. 22.
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Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. Acts v. 1.
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The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Ob. 17.
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4. The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession.
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How long hath this possession held the man? Shak.
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Coloq. To give possession , to put in another's power or occupancy. -- Coloq. To put in possession . (a) To invest with ownership or occupancy; to provide or furnish with; as, to put one in possession of facts or information. (b) (Law) To place one in charge of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry. -- Coloq. To take possession , to enter upon, or to bring within one's power or occupancy. -- Coloq. Writ of possession (Law), a precept directing a sheriff to put a person in peaceable possession of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.
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Possession, v. t. To invest with property. [Obs.]
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Possessionary (?), a. Of or pertaining to possession; arising from possession.
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Possessioner (?), n. 1. A possessor; a property holder. [Obs.] “Possessioners of riches.” E. Hall.
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Having been of old freemen and possessioners. Sir P. Sidney.
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2. An invidious name for a member of any religious community endowed with property in lands, buildings, etc., as contrasted with mendicant friars. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Possessival (?), a. Of or pertaining to the possessive case; as, a possessival termination. Earle.
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Possessive (?), a. [L. possessivus: cf. F. possessif.] Of or pertaining to possession; having or indicating possession.
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Coloq. Possessive case (Eng. Gram.), the genitive case; the case of nouns and pronouns which expresses ownership, origin, or some possessive relation of one thing to another; as, Homer's admirers; the pear's flavor; the dog's faithfulness. -- Coloq. Possessive pronoun , a pronoun denoting ownership; as, his name; her home; my book.
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Possessive (?), n. 1. (Gram.) The possessive case.
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2. (Gram.) A possessive pronoun, or a word in the possessive case.
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Possessively, adv. In a possessive manner.
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Possessor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. possesseur.] One who possesses; one who occupies, holds, owns, or controls; one who has actual participation or enjoyment, generally of that which is desirable; a proprietor. “Possessors of eternal glory.” Law.
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As if he had been possessor of the whole world. Sharp.
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Syn. -- Owner; proprietor; master; holder; occupant.
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Possessory (?), a. [L. possessorius: cf. F. possessoire.] Of or pertaining to possession, either as a fact or a right; of the nature of possession; as, a possessory interest; a possessory lord.
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Coloq. Possessory action or Coloq. Possessory suit (Law), an action to regain or obtain possession of something. See under .
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Posset (?), n. [W. posel curdled milk, posset.] A beverage composed of hot milk curdled by some strong infusion, as by wine, etc., -- much in favor formerly. “I have drugged their posset.” Shak.
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Posset, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Posseted; p. pr. & vb. n. Posseting.] 1. To curdle; to turn, as milk; to coagulate; as, to posset the blood. [Obs.] Shak.
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2. To treat with possets; to pamper. [R.] “She was cosseted and posseted.” O. W. Holmes.
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Possibility (?), n.; pl. Possibilities (#). [F. possibilité, L. possibilitas.] 1. The quality or state of being possible; the power of happening, being, or existing. “All possibility of error.” Hooker. “Latent possibilities of excellence.” Johnson.
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2. That which is possible; a contingency; a thing or event that may not happen; a contingent interest, as in real or personal estate. South. Burrill.
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Possible (?), a. [F., fr. L. possibilis, fr. posse to be able, to have power; potis able, capable + esse to be. See , , and cf. a landlord.] Capable of existing or occurring, or of being conceived or thought of; able to happen; capable of being done; not contrary to the nature of things; -- sometimes used to express extreme improbability; barely able to be, or to come to pass; as, possibly he is honest, as it is possible that Judas meant no wrong.
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With God all things are possible. Matt. xix. 26.
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Syn. -- Practicable; likely. See .
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Possibly, adv. In a possible manner; by possible means; especially, by extreme, remote, or improbable intervention, change, or exercise of power; by a chance; perhaps; as, possibly he may recover.
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Can we . . . possibly his love desert? Milton.
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When possibly I can, I will return. Shak.
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Possum (?), n. [Shortened from opossum.] (Zoöl.) An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.]
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Coloq. To play possum , Coloq. To act possum , to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; -- in allusion to the habit of the opossum, which feigns death when attacked or alarmed.
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Post- (pōst). [L. post behind, after; cf. Skr. paçcābehind, afterwards.] A prefix signifying behind, back, after; as, postcommissure, postdot, postscript.
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Post, a. [F. aposter to place in a post or position, generally for a bad purpose.] Hired to do what is wrong; suborned. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
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Post, n. [AS., fr. L. postis, akin to ponere, positum, to place. See , and cf. 4th .] 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.
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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.
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Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore,
The gates of Azza, post and massy bar. Milton.
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Unto his order he was a noble post. Chaucer.
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☞ Post, in the sense of an upright timber or strut, is used in composition, in such words as king-post, queen-post, crown-post, gatepost, etc.
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2. The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt. [Obs.]
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When God sends coin
I will discharge your post. S. Rowlands.
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Coloq. From pillar to post . See under . -- Coloq. Knight of the post . See under . -- Coloq. Post hanger (Mach.), a bearing for a revolving shaft, adapted to be fastened to a post. -- Coloq. Post hole , a hole in the ground to set the foot of a post in. -- Coloq. 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. -- Coloq. Post and stall (Coal Mining), a mode of working in which pillars of coal are left to support the roof of the mine.
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Post, n. [F. poste, LL. posta station, post (where horses were kept), properly, a fixed or set place, fem. fr. L. positus placed, p. p. of ponere. See , and cf. a pillar.] 1. The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station. Specifically: (a) A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route; as, a stage or railway post. (b) A military station; the place at which a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a station. (c) The piece of ground to which a sentinel's walk is limited.
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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.
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In certain places there be always fresh posts, to carry that further which is brought unto them by the other. Abp. Abbot.
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I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,
Receiving them from such a worthless post. Shak.
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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.
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I send you the fair copy of the poem on dullness, which I should not care to hazard by the common post. Pope.
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4. Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier. [Obs.] “In post he came.” Shak.
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5. One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station. [Obs.]
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He held office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, post, for several years. Palfrey.
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6. A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger.
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The post of honor is a private station. Addison.
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7. A size of printing and writing paper. See the Table under .
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Coloq. Post and pair , an old game at cards, in which each player a hand of three cards. B. Jonson. -- Coloq. Post bag , a mail bag. -- Coloq. Post bill , a bill of letters mailed by a postmaster. -- Coloq. Post chaise , or Coloq. Post coach , a carriage usually with four wheels, for the conveyance of travelers who travel post. -- Coloq. Post day , a day on which the mall arrives or departs. -- Coloq. Post hackney , a hired post horse. Sir H. Wotton. -- Coloq. Post horn , a horn, or trumpet, carried and blown by a carrier of the public mail, or by a coachman. -- Coloq. Post horse , a horse stationed, intended, or used for the post. -- Coloq. Post hour , hour for posting letters. Dickens. -- Coloq. Post office . (a) 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. (b) The governmental system for forwarding mail matter. -- Coloq. Postoffice order . See Money order, under . -- Coloq. Post road , or Coloq. Post route , a road or way over which the mail is carried. -- Coloq. Post town . (a) A town in which post horses are kept. (b) A town in which a post office is established by law. -- Coloq. To ride post , to ride, as a carrier of dispatches, from place to place; hence, to ride rapidly, with as little delay as possible. -- Coloq. 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.
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Post (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Posted; p. pr. & vb. n. Posting.] 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.
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☞ Formerly, a large post was erected before the sheriff's office, or in some public place, upon which legal notices were displayed. This way of advertisement has not entirely gone of use.
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2. To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation; as, to post one for cowardice.
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On pain of being posted to your sorrow
Fail not, at four, to meet me. Granville.
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3. To enter (a name) on a list, as for service, promotion, or the like.
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4. To assign to a station; to set; to place; as, to post a sentinel. “It might be to obtain a ship for a lieutenant, . . . or to get him posted.” De Quincey.
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5. (Bookkeeping) To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account; to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger.
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You have not posted your books these ten years. Arbuthnot.
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6. To place in the care of the post; to mail; as, to post a letter.
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7. To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; -- often with up.
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Thoroughly posted up in the politics and literature of the day. Lond. Sat. Rev.
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Coloq. To post off , to put off; to delay. [Obs.] “Why did I, venturously, post off so great a business?” Baxter. -- Coloq. To post over , to hurry over. [Obs.] Fuller.
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Post, v. i. [Cf. OF. poster. See 4th .] 1. To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste. “Post seedily to my lord your husband.” Shak.
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And post o'er land and ocean without rest. Milton.
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2. (Man.) To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, esp. in trotting. [Eng.]
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Post, adv. With post horses; hence, in haste; as, to travel post.
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Post-abdomen (?), n. [Pref. post- + abdomen.] (Zoöl.) That part of a crustacean behind the cephalothorax; -- more commonly called abdomen.
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Postable (?), a. Capable of being carried by, or as by, post. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
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Postact (?), n. An act done afterward.
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Postage (?), n. The price established by law to be paid for the conveyance of a letter or other mailable matter by a public post.
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Coloq. Postage stamp , a government stamp required to be put upon articles sent by mail in payment of the postage, esp. an adhesive stamp issued and sold for that purpose.
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Postal (?), a. [Cf. F. postal.] Belonging to the post office or mail service; as, postal arrangements; postal authorities.
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Coloq. Postal card , or Coloq. Post card , a card used for transmission of messages through the mails, at a lower rate of postage than a sealed letter; also called postcard. Such cards are sold by the government with postage already paid, or by private vendors without a postage stamp. The message is written on one side of the card, and the address on the other. -- Coloq. Postal money order . See Money order, under . -- Coloq. Postal note , an order payable to bearer, for a sum of money (in the United States less than five dollars under existing law), issued from one post office and payable at another specified office. -- Coloq. Postal Union , a union for postal purposes entered into by the most important powers, or governments, which have agreed to transport mail matter through their several territories at a stipulated rate.
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Postanal (?), a. [Pref. post- + anal.] (Anat.) Situated behind, or posterior to, the anus.
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Postaxial (?), a. [Pref. post- + axial.] (Anat.) Situated behind any transverse axis in the body of an animal; caudal; posterior; especially, behind, or on the caudal or posterior (that is, ulnar or fibular) side of, the axis of a vertebrate limb.
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