A.D.
Anno Domini
In the year of the Lord
A.M.
Ante Meridiem
before noon
P.M.
Post Meridiem
after noon
et al.
et alia
and other things
etc.
et cetera
and the rest
e.g.
exempli gratia
for example
i.e.
id est
that is [to say]
(restates something in a simpler way)
N.B.
Nota Bene
Note well
(i.e. Pay attention to this)
P.S.
Post Scriptum
written after
S.P.Q.R.
Senatus Populusque Romanus
The Roman Senate and People
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 method of dating their years starting 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 proved
(Used at the end of a mathematical proof)
vs.
versus
against
(used in competitions between two entities)
M.D.
Medicinae Doctor
Doctor of Medicine
J.D.
Juris Doctor
Doctor of Law
(Lawyer)
M.O.
Modus Operandi
Method of Operating
(often used to describe a criminal's pattern of behavior, but can be used to describe any usual pattern)
cf.
confer
compare
(used when comparing two items)lb.
lb.
libra
scale
(used to stand for pounds since scale are used in weighing and libra is the word for scale in Latin)
Rx
Recipe
take
(used for Pharmacy perscriptions)
C.V.
Curriculum Vitae
literally "Course of Life"
Latin name for a person's job resume
ad lib.
ad libitum
at one's pleasure
(freedom to improvise in music and art)
ibid.
ibidem
in the same place
(used when citing the same source in the footnotes of a research paper, so as 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
(used for a detailed description of the thing preceeding)