Postmeridian: meaning, definitions and examples
🌇
postmeridian
[ ˌpoʊstˈmɛrɪdiən ]
time indication
The term 'postmeridian' refers to the period of time after midday, which is commonly known as the afternoon. It is often abbreviated as PM in timekeeping, indicating that the time follows twelve o'clock noon. This term is derived from Latin, where 'post' means 'after' and 'meridian' refers to 'midday'. Thus, postmeridian literally translates to 'after midday'. In daily usage, it designates hours from 12:00 PM to just before midnight.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The meeting is scheduled for 3 postmeridian.
- She usually has lunch in the postmeridian.
- Postmeridian, the sun starts to set earlier.
- We often have tea postmeridian.
Translations
Translations of the word "postmeridian" in other languages:
🇵🇹 pós-meridiano
🇮🇳 दोपहर के बाद
🇩🇪 nachmittags
🇮🇩 pasca tengah hari
🇺🇦 після полудня
🇵🇱 po południu
🇯🇵 午後
🇫🇷 après-midi
🇪🇸 postmeridiano
🇹🇷 öğleden sonra
🇰🇷 오후
🇸🇦 بعد الظهر
🇨🇿 odpoledne
🇸🇰 poobede
🇨🇳 下午
🇸🇮 popoldne
🇮🇸 eftirmiðdegi
🇰🇿 түс ауа
🇬🇪 საღამოს
🇦🇿 gündən sonra
🇲🇽 postmeridiano
Etymology
The term 'postmeridian' has its roots in the classical Latin language, stemming from 'post', meaning 'after', and 'meridianus', derived from 'meridies', which means 'midday' or 'noon'. The use of these terms dates back to ancient times when the concept of dividing the day based on the position of the sun was first established. This division into ante meridian (AM) and post meridian (PM) helped in organizing time effectively for daily activities. The formal adoption of this terminology coincided with the development of mechanical clocks in Europe during the late Middle Ages, allowing for more precise timekeeping. By the 19th century, the abbreviated forms AM and PM became standardized in various cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries, leading to widespread use of the term 'postmeridian' in schedules, timetables, and everyday conversation.