postscript

See also: post script

English

Alternative forms

• post script
• postscriptum, post scriptum
• PS, P.S., p.s.

Etymology

From New Latin postscriptum, from Latin, neuter of postscriptus, past participle of postscrībō (“write after”), from post (“after”) + scrībō (“write”). By surface analysis, post- +‎ script.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊst.skɹɪpt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

postscript (plural postscripts)

1. (countable) An addendum to a letter, added after the author's signature.
   • 1913, Flavius Claudius Iulianus, “Letters of Julian”, in Emily Wilmer Cave Wright, transl., The Works of the Emperor Julian, volume III, Introduction to the letters:

     As a rule Julian dictated to secretaries, and so fast that Libanius says the "tachygraphers" were unable to keep pace with him, but certain postscripts are marked "with his own hand."

2. (countable) An addition to a story, play, etc. after its completion.
   • 1974 February 2, Allen Young, “Reviews”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 7:

     In a moving post-script to the novel, Forster tells the reader that the book was inspired by a visit to the home of Edward Carpenter.

   • 2010, Maggie O'Farrell, The Hand That First Held Mine, Headline, →ISBN, page 34:

     And then a curious postscript: I share your dislike of the shortening of names but I must say that I'm not sure 'Alexandra' is entirely suitable for you. It seems to me that you require a name with rather more brio. I see you as a 'Lexie'. What do you think?

Usage notes

To indicate the beginning of a postscript to a letter, one often uses the abbreviation PS (or P.S., p.s., etc) followed by a colon or comma.

Synonyms

• (addendum to a letter): afterscript, afterword

Derived terms

• post-postscript

Translations

addendum to a letter

Bulgarian: послепи́с (bg) m (poslepís) Catalan: postdata Dutch: postscriptum (nl) n, nota bene (nl) Esperanto: postskribo Finnish: jälkikirjoitus (fi) French: post-scriptum (fr) German: Postskriptum (de) n Greek: υστερόγραφο (el) n (ysterógrafo) Hindi: पुनश्च (hi) m (punaśc), पश्चलेख (paścalekh) Hungarian: utóirat (hu), Ui., P. S. Korean: 발문(跋文) (balmun) Malay: catatan tambahan, pascatulisan, poskrip​ Maori: kupu āpiti Norwegian: Bokmål: etterskrift m or f, postskriptum n Nynorsk: etterskrift f, postskriptum n Plautdietsch: Bieschreft f Polish: dopisek (pl) m, post scriptum (pl) n, posłowie (pl) n Portuguese: pós-escrito (pt) m Romanian: postscriptum n Russian: постскри́птум (ru) m (postskríptum) Scottish Gaelic: eàrr-sgrìobhadh m Slovene: pripis m Spanish: posdata (es) Swedish: postskriptum (sv) n, efterskrift c Tagalog: tighabol Thai: ปัจฉิมลิขิต (th) Ukrainian: постскри́птум m (postskrýptum) Vietnamese: tái bút (vi) Volapük: pospenäd (vo)

Verb

postscript (third-person singular simple present postscripts, present participle postscripting, simple past and past participle postscripted)

1. To extend (a letter or another document) with additional remarks.