Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth

Edition/Abbreviation
< Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition

ABBREVIATION, a letter or group of letters, taken from a word or words, and employed to represent them for the sake of
brevity. Abbreviations, both of single words and of phrases, having a meaning more or less fixed and recognised, are common in
ancient writings and inscriptions, and very many are in use at the present time. A distinction is to be observed between abbreviations
and the contractions that are frequently to be met with in old manuscripts, and even in early printed books, whereby letters are
dropped out here and there, or particular collocations of letters represented by somewhat arbitrary symbols. The commonest form of
abbreviation is the substitution for a word of its initial letter; but, with a view to prevent ambiguity, one or more of the other letters
are frequently added. Letters are often doubled to indicate a plural or a superlative.

I. CLASSICAL ABBREVIATIONS.—The following list contains a selection from the abbreviations that occur in the writings and
inscriptions of the Romans:—

A.

Absolvo, Ædilis, Æs, Ager, Ago, Aio, Amicus,

A. Annus, Antiquo, Auctor, Auditor, Augustus,
Aulus, Aurum, Aut.

Æs alienum, Ante audita, Apud agrum, Aurum

A.A. argentum.

AA. Augusti AAA. Augusti tres.

A.A.A.F.F. Auro argento ære flando feriundo.[1]

A.A.V. Alter ambove.

A.C. Acta causa, Alius civis.

A.D. Ante diem; e.g., A.D.V. Ante diem quintum.

A.D.A. Ad dandos agros.

ÆD. Ædes, Ædilis, Ædilitas.

ÆM. and AIM. Æmilius, Æmilia.

ÆR. Ærarium. ÆR.P. Ære publico.

A.F. Actum fide, Auli filius.

AG. Ager, Ago, Agrippa.

A.G. Animo grato, Aulus Gellius.

A.L.M. and A.L.E. Arbitrium litis æstimandæ.

A.M. and A.MILL. Ad milliarium.

AN. Aniensis, Annus, Ante.

ANN. Annales, Anni, Annona.

ANT. Ante, Antonius.

A.O. Alii omnes, Amico optimo.

AP. Appius, Apud.

A.P. Ad pedes, Ædilitia potestate.

A.P.F. Auro (or argento) publico feriundo.

Amico posuit monumentum, Annorum plus

A.P.M. minus.

A.P.R.C. Anno post Romam conditam.

ARG. Argentum.

AR.V.V.D.D. Aram votam volens dedicavit, Arma votiva

dono dedit.

AT. A tergo. Also A TE. and A TER.

A.T.M.D.O. Aio te mihi dare opertere.

AV. Augur, Augustus, Aurelius.

A.V. Annos vixit.

A.V.C. Ab urbe condita.

AVG. Augur, Augustus.

AVGG. Augusti (generally of two).

AVGGG. Augusti tres.
 AVT.PR.R. Auctoritas provinciæ Romanorum.

B.

Balbius, Balbus, Beatus, Bene, Beneficiarius,

B. Beneficium, Bonus, Brutus, Bustum.

B. for V. Berna, Bivus, Bixit.

B.A. Bixit annos, Bonis auguriis, Bonus amabilis.

BB. or B.B. Bene bene, i.e., optima, Optimus.

B.D. Bonæ deæ, Bonum datum.

B.DD. Bonis deabus.

B.D.S.M. Bene de se merenti.

Bona femina, Bona fides, Bona fortuna,

B.F. Bonum factum.

Bona femina, Bona filia.

B.H. Bona hereditaria, Bonorum heres.

Bonum judicium. B.I.I. Boni judicis

B.I. judicium.

B.M. Beatæ memoriæ, Bene merenti.

B.N. Bona nostra, Bonum nomen.

BN.H.I. Bona hic invenies.

Bona paterna, Bonorum potestas, Bonum

B.P. publicum.

B.Q. Bene quiescat, Bona quæsita.

B.RP.N. Bono reipublicæ natus.

BRT. Britannicus.

B.T. Bonorum tutor, Brevi tempore.

B.V. Bene vale, Bene vixit, Bonus vir.

B.V.V. Balnea vina Venus.

BX. Bixit, for vixit.

C.

Cæsar, Caius, Caput, Causa, Censor, Civis,

C. Cohors, Colonia, Comitialis (dies),
Condemno, Consul, Cum, Curo, Custos.

ↄ. Caia, Centuria, Cum, the prefix Con.

Civis bonus, Commune bonum, Conjugi

C.B. benemerenti, Cui bono.

Calumniæ causa, Causa cognita, Conjugi

C.C. carissimæ, Consilium cepit Curiæ consulto.

C.C.C. Calumniæ cavendæ causa.

Cæsar (or Caius) curavit faciendum, Caius

C.C.F. Caii filius.

CC.VV. Clarissimi viri.

Cæsaris decreto, Caius Decius, Comitialibus

C.D. diebus.

CES. Censor, Censores. CESS. Censores.

Causa fiduciæ, Conjugi fecit, Curavit

C.F. faciendum.

C.H. Custos heredum, Custos hortorum.

C.I. Caius Julius, Consul jussit, Curavit judex.

CL. Clarissimus, Claudius, Clodius, Colonia.

CL.V. Clarissimus vir, Clypeum vovit.

C.M. Caius Marius, Causa mortis.

CN. Cnæus.

COH. Coheres, Cohors.

COL. Collega, Collegium, Colonia, Columna.

COLL. Collega, Coloni, Coloniæ.

COM. Comes, Comitium, Comparatum.

Conjux, Consensus, Consiliarius, Consul,

CON. Consularis.

COR. Cornelia (tribus), Cornelius, Corona, Corpus.

Consiliarius, Consul, Consulares.

COS. COSS. Consules.

Carissimus or Clarissimus puer, Civis

C.P. publicus, Curavit ponendum.

Caius Rufus, Civis Romanus, Curavit

C.R. reficiendum.

CS. Cæsar, Communis, Consul.

C.V. Clarissimus or consularis vir.

CVR. Cura, Curator, Curavit, Curia.

D.

Dat, Dedit, &c., De, Decimus, Decius,

D. Decretum, Decurio, Deus, Dicit, &c., Dies,
Divus, Dominus, Domus, Donum.

Decurio coloniæ, Diebus comitialibus, Divus

D.C. Cæsar.

Dea Dia, Decurionum decreto, Dedicavit, Deo

D.D. dedit, Dono dedit.

Datum decreto decurionum, Dono dedit

D.D.D. dedicavit.

D.E.R. De ea re.

DES. Designatus.

D.I. Dedit imperator, Diis immortalibus, Diis inferis.

D.I.M. Deo invicto Mithræ, Diis inferis Manibus.

Deo Magno, Dignus memoria, Diis Manibus,

D.M. Dolo malo.

D.O.M. Deo Optimo Maximo.

 Dedit proprio sumptu, Deo perpetuo sacrum,
D.P.S. De pecunia sua.

E.

E. Ejus, Eques, Erexit, Ergo, Est, Et, Etiam, Ex.

EG. Æger, Egit, Egregius.

Egregiæ memoriæ, Ejusmodi, Erexit

E.M. monumentum.

EQ.M. Equitum magister.

E.R.A. Ea res agitur.

F.

Fabius, Facere, Fecit, &c., Familia, Fastus

F. (dies), Felix, Femina, Fides, Filius, Flamen,
Fortuna, Frater, Fuit, Functus.

Faciendum curavit, Fidei commissum,

F.C. Fiduciæ causa.

F.D. Fidem dedit, Flamen Dialis, Fraude donavit.

F.F.F. Ferro flamma fame, Fortior fortuna fato.

FL. Filius, Flamen, Flaminius, Flavius.

F.L. Favete linguis, Fecit libens, Felix liber.

FR. Forum, Fronte, Frumentarius.

F.R. Forum Romanum.

G.

Gaius (= Caius), Gallia, Gaudium, Gellius,

G. Gemina, Gens, Gesta, Gratia.

Gemina fidelis (applied to a legion). So

G.F. G.F.F. Gemina pia fidelis.

GL. Gloria.

GN. Genius, Gens, Genus, Gnæus (= Cnæus).

G.P.R. Genio populi Romani.

 H.

H. Habet, Heres, Hic, Homo, Honor, Hora.

Heres, Herennius. HER. and

HER. HERC. Hercules.

H.L. Hac lege, Hoc loco, Honesto loco.

Hoc monumentum, Honesta mulier, Hora

H.M. mala.

H.S.E. Hic sepultus est, Hic situs est.

Hæc urbs, Hic vivit, Honeste vixit, Honestus

H.V. vir.

I.

Immortalis, Imperator, In, Infra, Inter, Invictus,

I. Ipse, Isis, Judex, Julius, Junius, Jupiter,
Justus.

IA. Jam, Intra.

I.C. Julius Cæsar, Juris Consultum, Jus civile.

ID. Idem, Idus, Interdum.

Inferis diis, Jovi dedicatum, Jus dicendum,

I.D. Jussu Dei.

I.D.M. Jovi deo magno.

I.F. In foro, In fronte.

I.H. Jacet hic, In honestatem, Justus homo.

IM. Imago, Immortalis, Immunis, Impensa.

IMP. Imperator, Imperium.

I.O.M. Jovi optimo maximo.

I.P, In publico, Intra provinciam, Justa persona.

I.S.V.P. Impensa sua vivus posuit.

K.
K.
 Kæso, Caia, Calumnia, Caput, Carus, Castra.

K., KAL., and KL. Kalendæ.

L.

Lælius, Legio, Lex, Libens, Liber, Libra,

L. Locus, Lollius, Lucius, Ludus.

LB. Libens, Liberi, Libertus.

L.D.D.D. Locus datus decreto decurionum.

LEG. Legatus, Legio.

LIB. Liber, Liberalitas, Libertas, Libertus, Librarius.

LL. Leges, Libentissime, Liberti.

L.M. Libens merito, Locus monumenti.

L.S. Laribus sacrum, Libens solvit, Locus sacer.

LVD. Ludus.

L.V.P.F. Ludos publicos fecit.

M.

Magister, Magistratus, Magnus, Manes,

Marcus, Marius, Marti, Mater, Memoria,
M. Mensis, Miles, Monumentum, Mortuus,
Mucius, Mulier.

M'. Manius.

Magno Deo, Manibus diis, Matri deum,

M.D. Merenti dedit.

MES. Mensis. MESS. Menses.

M.F. Mala fides, Marci filius, Monumentum fecit.

M.I. Matri Idaeæ, Matri Isidi, Maximo Jovi.

MNT. and MON. Moneta.

M.P. Male positus, Monumentum posuit.

M.S.
 Manibus sacrum, Memoriæ sacrum,
Manuscriptum.

Municeps, or municipium; so also MN., MV.,

MVN. and MVNIC.

M.V.S. Marti ultori sacrum, Merito votum solvit.

N.

Natio, Natus, Nefastus (dies), Nepos,

Neptunus, Nero, Nomen, Non, Nonæ,
N. Noster, Novus, Numen, Numerius,
Numerus, Nummus.

NEP. Nepos, Neptunus.

N.F.C. Nostræ fidei commissum.

N.L. Non licet, Non liquet, Non longe.

N.M.V. Nobilis memoriæ vir.

NN. Nostri. NN., NNO., and NNR. Nostrorum.

Nobilis. NOB., NOBR., and

NOB. NOV. Novembris.

Nefastus primo (i.e., priore parte diei), Non

N.P. potest.

O.

Ob, Officium, Omnis, Oportet, Optimus, Opus,

O. Ossa.

OB. Obiit, Obiter, Orbis.

O.C.S. Ob cives servatos.

O.H.F. Omnibus honoribus functus.

O.H.S.S. Ossa hic sita sunt.

OR. Hora, Ordo, Ornamentum.

O.T.B.Q. Ossa tua bene quiescant.

P.
P.
 Pars, Passus, Pater, Patronus, Pax,
Perpetuus, Pes, Pius, Plebs, Pondo,
Populus, Post, Posuit, Præses, Prætor,
Primus, Pro, Provincia, Publicus, Publius,
Puer.

Pactum conventum, Patres conscripti,

P.C. Pecunia constituta, Ponendum curavit,
Postconsulatum, Potestate censoria.

Pia fidelis, Pius felix, Promissa fides, Publii

P.F. filius.

P.M. Piæ memoriæ, Plus minus, Pontifex maximus.

Pater patratus, Pater patriæ, Pecunia publica,

P.P. Præpositus, Primipilus, Proprætor.

PR. Præses, Prætor, Pridie, Princeps.

P.R. Permissu reipublicæ, Populus Romanus.

P.R.C. Post Romam conditam.

PR.PR. Præfectus prætorii, Proprætor.

Pecunia sua, Plebiscitum, Proprio sumptu,

P.S. Publicæ saluti.

Pia victrix, Præfectus urbi, Præstantissimus

P.V. vir.

Q.

Quæstor, Quando, Quantus, Que, Qui,

Q. Quinquennalis, Quintus, Quirites.

Q.D.R. Qua de re.

Quæ infra scripta sunt; so Q.S.S.S. Quæ

Q.I.S.S. supra, &c.

QQ. Quæcunque, Quinquennalis, Quoque.

Q.R. Quæstor reipublicæ.

R.
R. Recte, Res, Respublica, Retro, Rex, Ripa,
Roma, Romanus, Rufus, Rursus.
R.C. Romana civitas, Romanus civis.

RESP. and RP. Respublica.

RET. P. and RP. Retro pedes.

S.

Sacrum, Scriptus, Semis, Senatus, Sepultus,

S. Servius, Servus, Sextus, Sibi, Sine, Situs,
Solus, Solvit, Sub, Suus.

SAC. Sacerdos, Sacrificium, Sacrum.

S.C. Senatus consultum.

Sacrum diis, Salutem dicit, Senatus decreto,

S.D. Sententiam dedit.

S.D.M. Sacrum diis Manibus, Sine dolo malo.

SER. Servius, Servus.

S.E.T.L. Sit ei terra levis.

SN. Senatus, Sententia, Sine.

Sacerdos perpetua, Sine pecunia, Sua

S.P. pecunia.

S.P.Q.R. Senatus populusque Romanus.

S.S. Sanctissimus senatus, Supra scriptum.

S.V.B.E.E.Q.V. Si vales bene est, ego quidem valeo.

T.

Terminus, Testamentum, Titus, Tribunus, Tu,

T. Turma, Tutor.

TB., TI., and TIB. Tiberius.

TB., TR., and TRB. Tribunus.

Testamentum fecit, Titi filius, Titulum fecit,

T.F. Titus Flavius.

TM. Terminus, Testamentum, Thermæ.

 T.P. Terminum posuit, Tribunicia potestate,
Tribunus plebis.

TVL. Tullius, Tullus.

V.

Urbs, Usus, Uxor, Vale, Verba, Vestalis,

V. Vester, Vir, Vivus, Vixit, Volo, Votum.

V.A. Veterano assignatus, Vixit annos.

V.C. Vale conjux, Vir clarissimus, Vir consularis.

V.E. Verum etiam, Vir egregius, Visum est.

V.F. Usus fructus, Verba fecit, Vivus fecit.

Urbis præfectus, Vir perfectissimus, Vivus

V.P. posuit.

V.R. Urbs Roma, Uti rogas, Votum reddidit.

II. MEDIÆVAL ABBREVIATIONS.—Of the different kinds of abbreviations in use in the middle ages, the following are examples:—

A.M. Ave Maria.

B.P. Beatus Paulus, Beatus Petrus.

Carissimus (also plur. Carissimi), Clarissimus,

CC. Circum.

D. Deus, Dominicus, Dux.

D.N.PP. Dominus noster Papa.

Felicissimus, Fratres, Pandectæ (prob. for Gr.

FF. Π).

I.C. or I.X. Jesus Christus.

I.D.N. In Dei nomine.

KK. Karissimus (or -mi).

 MM. Magistri, Martyres, Matrimonium, Meritissimus.

O.S.B. Ordinis Sancti Benedicti.

PP. Papa, Patres, Piissimus.

R.F. Rex Francorum.

R.P.D. Reverendissimus Pater Dominus.

S.C.M. Sacra Cæsarea Majestas.

S.M.E. Sancta Mater Ecclesia.

S.M.M. Sancta Mater Maria.

S.R.I. Sanctum Romanum Imperium.

S.V. Sanctitas Vestra, Sancta Virgo.

V. Venerabilis, Venerandus.

V.R.P. Vestra Reverendissima Paternitas.

III. ABBREVIATIONS NOW IN USE.—The import of these will often be readily understood from the connection in which they occur.
There is no occasion to explain here the common abbreviations used for Christian names, books of Scripture, months of the year,
points of the compass, grammatical and mathematical terms, or familiar titles, like “Mr,” &c.

The ordinary abbreviations, now or recently in use, may be conveniently classified under the following
headings:—

1. ABBREVIATED TITLES AND DESIGNATIONS.

A.A. Associate of Arts.

A.B. Able-bodied seaman.

A.M. (Artium Magister), Master of Arts.

A.R.A. Associate of the Royal Academy.

A.R.S.A. Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy.

B.A. Bachelor of Arts.

B.C.L. Bachelor of Civil Law.

B.D. Bachelor of Divinity.

B.LL. Bachelor of Laws.

B.Sc. Bachelor of Science.

C. Chairman.

C.A. Chartered Accountant.

C.B. Companion of the Bath.

C.E. Civil Engineer.

C.M. (Chirurgiæ Magister), Master in Surgery.

C.M.G. Companion of St Michael and St George.

C.S.I. Companion of the Star of India.

D.C.L. Doctor of Civil Law.

D.D. Doctor of Divinity.

D.Lit. Doctor of Literature.

D.M. Doctor of Medicine [Oxford].

D.Sc. Doctor of Science.

Ebor. (Eboracensis), of York.[2]

F.C.S. Fellow of the Chemical Society.

F.D. (Fidei Defensor), Defender of the Faith.

Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians & Surgeons

F.F.P.S. [Glasgow.]

F.G.S. Fellow of the Geological Society.

F.K.Q.C.P.I. Fellow of King and Queen's College of

Physicians in Ireland.

F.L.S. Fellow of the Linnæan Society.

F.M. Field Marshal.

F.P.S. Fellow of the Philological Society.

F.R.A.S. Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

F.R.C.P. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

F.R.C.P.E. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of

Edinburgh.

F.R.C.S. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

F.R.G.S. Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

F.R.S. Fellow of the Royal Society.

F.R.S.E. Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

F.R.S.L. Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

F.S.A. Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

F.S.S. Fellow of the Statistical Society.

F.Z.S. Fellow of the Zoological Society.

G.C.B. Knight Grand Cross of the Bath.

G.C.H. Knight Grand Cross of Hanover.

G.C.M.G. Knight Grand Cross ofSt Michael and

St George.

G.C.S.I. Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India.

H.R.H. His (or Her) Royal Highness.

J.P. Justice of the Peace.

(Juris utriusque Doctor), Doctor of Civil and

J.U.D. Canon Law.

K.C.S.I. Knight Commander of the Star of India.

K.C.B. Knight Commander of the Bath.

K.G. Knight of the Garter.

K.P. Knight of St Patrick.

K.T. Knight of the Thistle.

L.A.H. Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Hall.

L.C.J. Lord Chief Justice.

LL.B. (Legum Baccalaureus), Bachelor of Laws.

LL.D. (Legum Doctor), Doctor of Laws.

LL.M. (Legum Magister), Master of Laws.

L.R.C.P. Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians.

L.R.C.S. Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons.

L.S.A. Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Society.

M.A. Master of Arts.

(Medicinæ Baccalaureus), Bachelor of

M.B. Medicine.

M.C. Member of Congress.

M.D. (Medicinæ Doctor), Doctor of Medicine.

M.P. Member of Parliament.

M.R.C.P. Member of the Royal College of Physicians.

M.R.I.A. Member of the Royal Irish Academy.

Mus. B. Bachelor of Music.

Mus. D. Doctor of Music.

N.P. Notary Public.

P.C. Privy Councillor.

Ph.D. (Philosophiæ Doctor), Doctor of Philosophy.

P.P. Parish Priest.

P.R.A. President of the Royal Academy.

 Q.C. Queen's Counsel.

R. (Rex, Regina), King, Queen.

R.A. Royal Academician. Royal Artillery.

R.A.M. Royal Academy of Music.

R.E. Royal Engineers.

Reg. Prof. Regius Professor.

R.M. Royal Marines.

R.N. Royal Navy.

S. or St. Saint.

Solicitor before the Supreme Courts [of

S.S.C. Scotland].

(Sacrosanctæ Theologiæ Professor),

S.T.P. Professor of Sacred Theology.

V.C. Vice-Chancellor. Victoria Cross.

V.G. Vicar-General.

V.S. Veterinary Surgeon.

Writer to the Signet [in Scotland]. Equivalent to

W.S. Attorney.

2. ABBREVIATIONS DENOTING MONIES, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES:—[3]

ac. acre. L.,[4] £,[4] or I. (libra), pound (money).

bar. barrel. Ib. or ℔. (libra), pound (weight).

bus. bushel. m. or mi. mile; minute.

c. cent. . minim.

mo.
 c. (or cub.) ft. &c. cubic foot, &c. month.

cwt. hundredweight. na. nail.

d. (denarius), penny. oz. ounce.

deg. degree. pk. peck.

dr. drachm or dram. po. pole.

dwt. pennyweight. pt. pint.

f. franc. q. (quadrans), farthing.

fl. florin. qr. quarter.

ft. foot. qt. quart.

fur. furlong. ro. rood.

gal. gallon. Rs.[4] rupees.

gr. grain. s. or / (solidus), shilling.

h. or hr. hour. s. or sec. second.

hhd. hogshead. sc. or scr. scruple.

in. inch. sq. ft. &c. square foot, &c.

kilo. kilometre. st. stone.

yd. yard.

3. MISCELLANEOUS ABBREVIATIONS.

A. Accepted.

A.C. (Ante Christum), Before Christ.

acc., a/c., or acct. Account.

A.D. (Anno Domini), In the year of our Lord.

 A.E.I.O.U. Austriæ est imperare orbi universo,[5] or
Alles Erdreich Ist Oesterreich Unterthan.

Æt. or Ætat. (Ætatis [anno]), In the year of his age.

(Anno Hegiræ), In the year of the Hegira (the

A.H. Mohammedan era).

A.M. (Anno Mundi), In the year of the world.

A.M. (Ante meridiem), Forenoon.

Anon. Anonymous.

(Anno urbis conditæ), In the year from the

A.U.C. building of the city (i.e., Rome.)

B.C. Before Christ.

C. or Cap. (Caput), Chapter.

C. Centigrade (or Celsius's) Thermometer.

cent.[6] (Centum), A hundred, frequently £100.

Cf. (Confer), Compare.

Ch. or Chap. Chapter.

Co. Company. County.

Cr. Creditor.

curt. Current, the present month.

D.G. (Dei gratia), By the grace of God.

Do. Ditto, the same.

D.O.M. (Deo Optimo Maximo), To God the Best and

Greatest.

Dr. Debtor.

D.V. (Deo volente), God willing.

e.g. (Exempli gratia), For example.

 ect. or &c. (Et cætera), And the rest; and so forth.

Ex. Example.

F. or Fahr. Fahrenheit's Thermometer.

Fec. (Fecit), He made (or did) it.

fl. Flourished.

Fo. or Fol. Folio.

f.o.b. Free on board.

G.P.O. General Post Office.

H.M.S. Her Majesty's Ship.

Ib. or Ibid. (Ibidem), In the same place.

Id. (Idem), The same.

i.e. (Id est), That is.

(Jesus Hominum Salvator), Jesus the Saviour of

I.H.S. men.

Inf. (Infra), Below.

inst. Instant, the present month.

I.O.U. I owe you.

i.q. (Idem quod), The same as.

κ.τ.λ. (καὶ τὰ λοιπά), Et cætera, and the rest.

L. or Lib. (Liber), Book.

Lat. Latitude.

l.c. (Loco citato), In the place cited.

Lon. or Long. Longitude.

L.S. (Locus sigilli), The place of the seal.

Mem. (Memento), Remember, Memorandum.

MS. Manuscript. MSS. Manuscripts.

N.B. (Nota bene), Mark well; take notice.

N.B. North Britain (i.e., Scotland).

N.D. No date.

nem. con. (Nemine contradicente), No one

contradicting.

No. (Numero), Number.

N.S. New Style.

N.T. New Testament.

ob. (Obiit), Died.

Obs. Obsolete.

O.H.M.S. On Her Majesty's Service.

O.S. Old Style.

O.T. Old Testament.

P. Page. Pp. Pages.

(Per), For; e.g., Ib., For one pound.

Pinx. (Pinxit), He painted it.

P.M. (Post meridiem), Afternoon.

P.O. Post Office. P.O.O. Post Office Order.

P.P.C. (Pour prendre congé), To take leave.

P.R. Prize-ring.

prox. (Proximo [mense]), Next month.

P.S. Postscript.

Pt. Part.

p.t. or pro. tem. (Pro tempore), For the time.

P.T.O. Please turn over.

Q., Qu., or Qy. Query; Question.

(Quasi dicat), As if he should say; as much as to

q.d. say.

(Quod erat demonstrandum), which was to be

Q.E.D. demonstrated.

Q.E.F. (Quod erat faciendum), which was to be done.

q.s. or quant. suff. (Quantum sufficit), As much as is

sufficient.

q.v. (Quod vide), Which see.

R. or ℞. (Recipe), Take.

√ (= r. for radix), the sign of the square root.

R.I.P. (Requiescat in pace!), May he rest in peace!

sc. (Scilicet), Namely; that is to say.

Sc. or Sculp. (Sculpsit), He engraved it.

S.D.U.K. Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

seq. or sq., seqq. or sqq. (Sequens, sequentia), The

following.

s.p. (Sine prole), Without offspring.

S.P.G. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

Sup. (Supra), Above.

s.v. (Sub voce), Under the word (or heading).

T.C.D. Trinity College, Dublin.

ult. (Ultimo [mense]), Last month.

U.S. United States.

v. (Versus), Against.
 v. or vid. (Vide), See.

viz. (Videlicet), Namely.

V.R. (Victoria Regina), Victoria the Queen.

Christmas [This X is a Greek letter,

Xmas. corresponding to Ch].

(See Grævius's Thesaurus Antiquitatum, 1694, sqq.; Nicolai's Tractatus de Siglis Veterum; Mommsen's Corpus Inscriptionum
Latinarum, 1863, sqq.; Natalis de Wailly's Paléographie, Paris, 1838; Alph. Chassant's Paléographie, 1854, and Dictionnaire des
Abréviations, 3d ed., 1866. A manual of the abbreviations in current use is adesideratum.)

1. Describing the function of thetriumviri monetales.

2. An archbishop or bishop, in writing his signature, substitutes for his surname the name of his see; thus the prelates
of Canterbury, York, Oxford, London, &c., subscribe themselvesA. C. Cantuar., W. Ebor., J. F. Oxon., J. London, &c.
3. Characters, not properly abbreviations, are used in the same way;e.g., ° ′ ″ for “degrees, minutes, seconds,”
(circular measure) ℥, ℨ, ℈ for “ounces, drachms, scruples.” ℥ is probably to be traced to the written form of thez in
“oz.”
4. These forms (as well as$, the symbol for the American dollar) are placed before their amounts.
5. It is given to Austria to rule the whole earth. The device of Austria, first adopted by Frederick III.
6. “Per cent.” is often signified by °⁄°, a form traceable to “100.”

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