post (2), poste

& adv. [Fr. poste (masc.)=a post, a me enger; (fem.)=post, posting, riding, ., from Low Lat. post a a station, a site, prop. fem. sing. of post us = posit us, pa. par. of pono = to place; Sp., Port., & Ital. post a; Ger. post.] IMG:content-1382.png:[blocks in formation] 3. A fixed or established place on a line of road where horses were kept for traveling; a stage, a station, a posting-house. Posts seem to have been first established for the conveyance of government me engers or private travelers rather than of letters. The ancient system extensively existed in the provincial parts of India till the introduction of railways narrowed the sphere of its operations. 4. A person who traveled by posting, or using relays of horses; a quick traveler, a courier. "Richard, duke of York, being in Ireland, by swyft currers and flieing postes was aduertised of the great victorie."- Hall : Henry VI . (an. 38). 5. A carrier of letters, papers, or me ages; one who goes at stated times to carry mails or despatches from one place to another; a postman. 6. An established system for the public conveyance and delivery of letters; the conveyance by government officers of the public mails from place to place; the post-office. "Letters, especially those to the delivery of which in the ordinary course of post importance is attached."London Daily Telegraph . IMG:content-1383.png:[blocks in formation] ↑ Cyrus, the founder of the Persian empire, is credited with the first use of posts for letters. Probably the earliest were government despatches; then private letters would be taken surreptitiously, and finally arrangements would be made for doing so as a government monopoly. Despatches sent by Ahasuerus (Xerxes?) throughout the Persian empire are mentioned in Esther i. 22; iii. 12-15; viii. 5-10, 13, 14; ix. 20, 30. They were by posts, i . e ., men riding on mules and camels (viii. 14). August us Cæsar had similar posts in Rome. Charlemagne seems to have introduced them into France. [Post OFFICE.] 7. A post-office; an office or house where letters are received for transmi ion by the post. "Scarcely had last week's letter been dropped into the post ." - Field , Jan. 23, 1886. 8. A single or particular despatch of mails; as, to mi a post . *9. Haste, speed, post-haste. 10. A post-horse; a relay of horses. "Presently took post to tell you." Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet, v. 1. 11. A situation; an office or employment; any position of trust, dignity, service, or emolument; an appointment. "The point of interest or the post of power." Cowper: Retirement, 142. *12. A game at cards, Post-and-pair. II. Technically: 1. Mil .: A bugle-call, giving notice of the time for retiring for the night. "First post was sounded at half-past ten."-City Pre , Sept. 30, 1885. 2. Paper : A size of writing-paper, so called be cause its original water-mark was a postman's horn. It varies in size from 221 by 171 inches to 19 by 151 inches. B. As adv.: Hastily, speedily; in all haste, as a post. ( Milton : P. L. , iv. 171.) *(1) Post - and - pair : [Post (2), 8., A. I. 12.] *(2) To ride post : To be employed in carrying mails, ., by posting or relays of horses; hence, to ride in haste or with all speed. (3) To travel post : To travel with all po ible speed; to travel expeditiously.