Latin Abbreviations

[Explorer]

Latin frequently uses abbreviations, which appear often in old texts and on monuments. That’s why it’s useful to know at least some of the most common ones, especially since many are still used in modern languages.

Abbreviation	Latin	English Meaning
AD	anno Domini	in the year of the Lord
a.m.	ante meridiem	before midday
ca.	circa	approximately
et al.	et alii	and others
etc.	et cetera	and the rest
e.g.	exempli gratia	for example
id.	idem	the same
i.a.	inter alia	among other things
i.e.	id est	that is, in other words
p.m.	post meridiem	after midday
pro tem.	pro tempore	for the time being
PS	post scriptum	postscript
s.d.	sine data	without date of publication
s.s.	sensu stricto	in the strict sense
vs.	versus	against

[PtolemysXX]

Some more:
r.i.p - requiescat in pace - may he/she rest in peace
d.o.m. - deo optimo e maximo - to the greatest and best god
s.p.q.r. - senatus populusque romanus (useful if one visits Rome) - the Senate and People of Rome
c.t. - cum tempore (starting a lecture 15 min after a full hour)
c.h. - Confoederatio Helvetica = Switzerland
q.e.d. - quod erat demonstrandum - that which was to be demonstrated

[Explorer]

Let’s decipher some original Latin texts and inscriptions written in abbreviated form. We begin with the Pantheon in Rome.

• Original abbreviated Latin inscription: M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIUM.FECIT
  
  
• Complete text: Marcus Agrippa, Lucii filius, consul tertium, fecit.
  
  
• Translation: Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, made it.

Rising in the heart of Rome, the Pantheon stands as a breathtaking monument of imperial grandeur. Originally conceived as a temple to honor all gods. First commissioned by Agrippa during the time of Emperor Augustus, it was later beautifully rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD after the building was severely damaged by fire. Its crowning marvel, an immense dome, the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever constructed, defies time and engineering limits. At its center, a great oculus pierces the heavens, inviting sunlight to dance upon its hallowed interior. For nearly two millennia, this monument has withstood the tides of history, transformed into a Christian church in the 7th century, yet forever echoing the power and vision of Rome.

[Basler Biker]

Maybe not exactly an abbreviation, still "fax" is short for fac-simile, which means "make similar" or "make alike." In Latin, fac is the imperative form of facere, meaning "to make," and simile means "similar" or "like." So, facsimile essentially means "an exact copy" or "reproduction" of something. The machine is doing this over a distance is a telefax. (however ... tele is Greek)

general
cf - confer (compare)
N.B. - Nota Bene (Note well)
viz. - videlicet (Namely, that is to say)
[sic] - to show that the mistake or oddity is in the original text and not introduced by the person quoting it.
...

religious
A.C.N. or A.C. ante Christum natum
S.J. - Societas Jesu (Society of Jesus, Jesuits)
I.N.R.I. - Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews)
...

legal
J.D. - Juris Doctor (Doctor of Law)
LL.D. - Legum Doctor (Doctor of Laws)
loc. cit. - loco citato (In the place cited)
...

medical
a.c. - ante cibum (Before meals)
p.c. - post cibum (After meals)
...

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