post-office
UK[ˈpəʊst ɒfɪs]US[ˈpoʊst ɑːfɪs]
n
A building, room, or organization where mail is received, sorted, and sent, and where stamps are sold and other postal services are provided.
Morpheme Breakdown
post
office
post
office
place of business
Etymology
The term "post-office" is a transparent compound formed from two nouns, each with a long history. "Post" derives from the Latin verb ponere (to place), evolving through systems of relay stations where messengers and horses were "posted" or stationed, eventually coming to signify the mail system itself. "Office" originates from Latin officium, combining opus (work) and facere (to do), denoting a duty or service. When combined in Early Modern English, the compound literally means "the place for the business of the mail," directly and logically describing its function as the establishment handling postal services.
Analysis
Structure: post (mail) + office (place of business)
- post: From Latin positus (placed, set), via Italian posta and French poste, referring to a station or system for relaying mail. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "mail" or "the system for delivering letters and parcels."
- office: From Latin officium (service, duty, function), via Old French ofice. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "a place where a specific service or business is conducted."
Examples
She went to the post-office to buy stamps and send a package.
The old post-office on Main Street is now a charming café.
You can collect your parcel from the post-office after 1 p.m.