posterity
(pɒˈstɛrɪtɪ)
[ME. posterite, a. F. postérité (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. posteritas the condition of coming after, after time, posterity, f. poster-us coming after: see -ity.]
1. The descendants collectively of any person; all who have proceeded from a common ancestor. Also pl. (obs.: quot. 1676); also fig. (quot. 1847).
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 115 Þe monk asked of þe posterite of Edward and of þe successours of reignynge. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 743 Crist moght noght be borne of hire posteritee. 1535 Coverdale Job v. 25 Thy posterite shalbe as the grasse vpon the earth. 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 24 They ioyne in mariage..for ye encrease of posteritie. 1676 Allen Address Nonconf. 188 The hazard we run of exposing our posterities to lose the substance by our contending for circumstance. a 1727 Newton Chronol. Amended i. (1728) 118 The Kingdom of Argos became divided among the posterity of Temenus. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Plato ¶2 No wife, no children had he, and the thinkers of all civilized nations are his posterity. |
2. † a. A later generation (with pl.). Obs. b. All succeeding generations (collectively).
| 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxxi[i]. 17 His name shal remayne vnder the sonne amonge the posterites, which shal be blessed thorow him. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 201 Hys memoryal shal endure to the last posterytie. 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) A vij b, Why should not we doe as much for the posteritie, as we haue receiued of the antiquitie? 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 29 It was necessary that some should write thereof for their good, as also for the benefit of posteritie. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine viii. 39 Their old household Goddes, to which many posterities had giuen their deuotion. 1609 Tourneur Funeral Poem 4 And that shall never dye But with it live to all Posteritie. 1650 S. Clarke Eccl. Hist. i. (1654) 28 Yet his learning is admired by all Posterities. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 3 ¶5 The ocean and the sun will last our time, and we may leave posterity to shift for themselves. 1800 Colquhoun Comm. Thames ix. 284 They will deserve the Thanks of the Nation, and the Gratitude of Posterity. 1899 Daily News 2 May 6/6 ‘Posterity has done nothing for us. Why should we do anything for posterity?’ Such is the simple creed of neo-Conservative finance. |
† 3. = posteriority 1. Obs. rare.
| 1531 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W.) 199 b, In god is no accidentall thynge nor priorite or posterite, ne ony order of tyme. |