Latin Abbreviations

A.D. - Anno Domini

in the year of the Lord (C.E. = Common Era)

a.m. (ante meridiem)

before noon

p.m. (post meridiem)

after noon

ca. - circa

around, about (of approximate dates)

stat - statim

immediately

et al. - et alia / et alii

and other things / and other people

etc. - et cetera

and the rest

e.g. - exempl? grati?

for the sake of example

ff. = the following (pages)

...

i.e. - id est

that is [to say]
(restates something in a simpler way)

N.B. - Not? Bene

Note well
(i.e. Pay close attention)

op. cit. (opus citatum)

the work previously cited

viz. (videlicet)

that is to say; namely

pro tem (pr? tempore)

for the time being

P.S. - Post Scriptum

written after (at the end of a letter)

S.P.Q.R. - Senatus Populusque Romanus

The Roman Senate and People;
slogan of Rome

R.I.P. - Requiescat in pace

May (s)he rest in peace

A.U.C. - Ab Urbe Condita

From the foundation of the city"
(Roman dating years started with the founding of Rome in 753 B.C. and year 1 A.U.C.)

Q.E.D. - Quod erat demonstrandum

That which had to be proven
(Used at the end of a mathematical proof)

vs. - versus

against
(used in competitions between two entities; used in legal cases: Brown vs. Topeka Board of Ed.)

M.A. - Magister Artium

the Master's degree

M.D. - Medicinae Doctor

Doctor of Medicine

Ph. D - Philosophiae Doctor

Doctor of Philosophy

J.D. - Juris Doctor

Doctor of Law
(Lawyer)

M.O. - Modus Operandi

Method of Operating
(often of a criminal's pattern of behavior, also to describe any usual pattern)

cf. - confer

compare
(used when comparing two items)

lb. - libra

scale
(stands for pound since a scale is used in weighing, and libra means scale in Latin)

Rx - Recipe

take again
(of Pharmacy prescriptions)

C.V. - Curriculum Vitae

literally "Course of Life"
Latin name for a job resume

ad lib. - ad libitum

at one's pleasure
(freedom to improvise in music, comedy, and art)

ibid. - ibidem

in the same place: ibi "there" + idem "the same"
(for citing the same source in footnotes of a research paper, not to have to write out the info again)

q.v. - quod vide

which see
(used to direct a reader to look up a topic elsewhere in the book)

viz. - videlicet

it is permitted to see: vide (Imperative) "see" + licet "it's permitted"
(for a detailed description of the thing preceeding)

vol. ; pl. vv.

volume (Lat. volumen), papyrus scroll

fresco

painting made while wall plaster is still wet

Pompeianus

man of Pompeii