postmeridian, a.
(pəʊstməˈrɪdɪən)
[ad. L. postmerīdiānus (contr. pōmer-) adj., in the afternoon, f. post after + merīdiānus meridian a.; cf. pomeridian.]
1. Occurring after noon or midday; of or pertaining to the afternoon. Also fig.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §57 An over hasty digestion, which is the inconvenience of postmeridian sleeps. c 1805 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev., The postmeridian degrees of civilization (to preserve the author's metaphor) are less favourable to the popularity of the drama. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 198 The pyrexia of tuberculosis attains its maximum..in the post-meridian hours of the day. |
2. Geol. Applied by Professor Rogers to the ninth of the fifteen subdivisions of the Palæozoic strata of the Appalachian chain.
| 1858 H. D. Rogers Geol. Pennsylv. II. ii. 749 These periods, applicable only to the American Palæozoic day, are the Primal..Pre-Meridian, Meridian, Post-Meridian [etc.]. 1859 Page Handbk. Geol. Terms, Post-Meridian,..the ‘Afternoon’ of the North American Palæozoics, and the equivalent, in part, of our Lower Devonians. |
¶ 3. post meridian: erron. for next.
| 1795 C. Dibdin in Life (1803) III. 335 'Twas post meridian, half past four, By signal I from Nancy parted. 1849 James Woodman i, About the hour of half past eleven, post meridian, the moon was shining. |