Common Latin Abbreviations

Latin was the universal academic language in Europe up until the late 1700s. However Latin is not a dead language — it is very much alive in the modern, twitter-obsessed world. We use Latin every single day without really thinking about it, i.e., we use Latin abbreviations in conversation, correspondence, and formal writing, e.g., in term papers, articles, blog posts, scholarly works, etc. But how many actually know what the abbreviations stand for? Here is a list of common Latin abbreviations and their meaning.

A.M. – ante meridian: before midday

c., ca., – circa: around or about

cf. or cp. – confer: compare

C.V. – curriculum vitae: course of life

ead. – eadem: the same (woman) [feminine form of ibid.]

et al. – et alii: and others

etc. – et cetera: and the others, and the rest

e.g., – exampli gratia: for example, for instance

ibid. – ibidem: the same (man)

i.e. – id est: that is, in other words

M.O. – modus operandi: method of operating

op. cit. – opere citato: the work cited

P.M. – post meridiem: after midday

P.S. – post scriptum: after what has been written

Re – in re: in the matter of, concerning

R.I.P. – requiescat in pace: may he or she rest in peace

Sic – sic erat scriptum: thus it is written

stat. – statim: immediately

viz. – videlicet: namely, that is to say

vs. or v. – versus: against

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