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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).
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 115 Þe monk asked of þe posterite of Edward and of þe successours of reignynge. c1450Mirour Saluacioun 743 Crist moght noght be borne of hire posteritee. 1535Coverdale Job v. 25 Thy posterite shalbe as the grasse vpon the earth. 1553Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 24 They ioyne in mariage..for ye encrease of posteritie. 1676Allen Address Nonconf. 188 The hazard we run of exposing our posterities to lose the substance by our contending for circumstance. a1727Newton Chronol. Amended i. (1728) 118 The Kingdom of Argos became divided among the posterity of Temenus. 1847Emerson 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).
1535Coverdale Ps. lxxi[i]. 17 His name shal remayne vnder the sonne amonge the posterites, which shal be blessed thorow him. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 201 Hys memoryal shal endure to the last posterytie. 1581G. 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? 1594T. 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. 1606G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine viii. 39 Their old household Goddes, to which many posterities had giuen their deuotion. 1609Tourneur Funeral Poem 4 And that shall never dye But with it live to all Posteritie. 1650S. Clarke Eccl. Hist. i. (1654) 28 Yet his learning is admired by all Posterities. 1758Johnson Idler No. 3 ⁋5 The ocean and the sun will last our time, and we may leave posterity to shift for themselves. 1800Colquhoun Comm. Thames ix. 284 They will deserve the Thanks of the Nation, and the Gratitude of Posterity. 1899Daily 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.
1531Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W.) 199 b, In god is no accidentall thynge nor priorite or posterite, ne ony order of tyme. |