postmaster
UK[ˈpəʊstˌmɑːstə]US[ˈpoʊstˌmæstər]
n
A person who is in charge of a post office.
Morpheme Breakdown
post
master
post
master
person in charge
Etymology
The word 'postmaster' is a transparent compound formed within English from two established nouns. 'Post', in the sense of a mail service, derives from the Latin positus meaning "placed," reflecting the historical system of relay stations where mounted couriers and horses were "posted" or stationed. 'Master' originates from the Latin magister, meaning a person in command or a leader. When combined, the term literally means "master of the post," logically evolving to designate the official responsible for the operations and administration of a local post office, overseeing the sorting, dispatch, and delivery of mail.
Analysis
Structure: post (mail) + master (person in charge)
- post: From Latin positus (placed, set), via Old French poste (relay station, courier). In English, it denotes the system for carrying and delivering mail.
- master: From Old English mægester, from Latin magister (chief, head, teacher). Denotes a person having authority, control, or superiority.
Examples
The village postmaster knew everyone by name.
She wrote a formal complaint to the postmaster about the delayed package.
The position of postmaster became available after the retirement of the long-serving official.