postscript
UK[ˈpəʊstskrɪpt]US[ˈpoʊstskrɪpt]
n
A note or paragraph added at the end of a letter, after the writer's signature.
n
An additional remark or piece of information added at the end of a book, speech, or other text.
Morpheme Breakdown
post
script
post
after
script
written
Etymology
The word "postscript" is a direct borrowing from Latin postscriptum, the neuter past participle of postscribere, meaning "to write after". It is a transparent compound of post- ("after") and scribere ("to write"). The term entered English in the early 16th century, initially used in its literal Latin sense to denote text added after the main body of a written work. Over time, its application narrowed specifically to additions made after a signature in a letter, famously abbreviated as "P.S.". The logic of the word remains perfectly clear: it is a "writing that comes after," preserving the original compositional meaning from its classical roots.
Analysis
Structure: post (after) + script (written)
post: Latin origin, meaning "after, behind". It functions as a prefix indicating sequence or position in time or place.
script: From Latin scriptum, meaning "a thing written", from the verb scribere (to write). It functions as the core root denoting writing.
Examples
She added a humorous postscript at the bottom of her letter.
The author included a brief postscript in the book's latest edition to address recent events.
His speech concluded with an important postscript that clarified his main argument.