postposition

[ pohst-puh-zish-uhn, pohst-puh-zish-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of placing after.
2. the state of being so placed.
3. Grammar.
   1. the use of words, particles, or affixes following the elements they modify or govern, as of the adjective general in attorney general, or of the particle e “to” in Japanese Tokyo e “to Tokyo.”
   2. a word, particle, or affix so used.

postposition

/ ˌpəʊstpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. placement of a modifier or other speech element after the word that it modifies or to which it is syntactically related
2. a word or speech element so placed

Derived Forms

• ˌpostpoˈsitionally, adverb
• ˌpostpoˈsitional, adjective

Other Words From

• postpo·sition·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of postposition¹

1540–50; post- + position or (pre)position ¹

Example Sentences

Note that ra may be taken as a postposition of the genitive as well as phonetic complement (see on line 3).

From Project Gutenberg

If ra were a postposition, it would follow the suffix bi (on which see Hymn to Sin, line 27).

From Project Gutenberg

When the noun to which they are suffixed has a double form, the postposition is added to the short form.

From Project Gutenberg

The postposition pampa, ixtli, the face, and the first possessive pronoun no.

From Project Gutenberg

The accusative case in nouns is marked by a postposition, ku, as in Hindustani.

From Project Gutenberg