postscript

Where does the word "postscript" come from? It comes from Latin post scriptum, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Postscript’s story begins in Latin: post scriptum meant “written after.” Written after, from post- (after) and scriptum (something written). It reached English by 1500s as postscript. Settled as the English word for an additional remark added after a letter's signature. Today, postscript means an additional remark or piece of information added after the main body of a letter.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient post scriptum "written after", written after, from post- (after) and scriptum (something written).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s postscript "an additional remark added after a letter's signature", settled as the English word for an additional remark added after a letter's signature.