post-mortem

also postmortem, 1734 as an adverb, "after death," from Latin post mortem, from post "after" (see post-) + mortem, accusative of mors "death" (from PIE root *mer- "to rub away, harm," also "to die" and forming words referring to death and to beings subject to death). From 1835 as an adjective, "subsequent to death." As a noun, shortening of post-mortem examination, it is recorded from 1850. The Latin phrase ante mortem "before death" is attested in English by 1823.