This is a list of common Latin abbreviations. Nearly all the abbreviations below have been adopted by Modern English. However, with some exceptions (for example, versus or modus operandi), most of the Latin referent words and phrases are perceived as foreign to English. In a few cases, English referents have replaced the original Latin ones (e.g., "rest in peace" for RIP and "postscript" for PS).
Latin was once the universal academic language in Europe. From the 18th century, authors started using their mother tongues to write books, papers or proceedings. Even when Latin fell out of use, many Latin abbreviations continued to be used due to their precise simplicity and Latin's status as a learned language.
List of common abbreviations
List of less-common abbreviations and usages
Words and abbreviations that have been in general use but are currently used less often.
Used in biology
- aff. (affinis): having affinity with, similar but not identical to
- auct. (auctorum): of the authors; indicates that a name is used in the sense of subsequent authors, and not in the sense of the original author
- Ca. (Candidatus): for candidate names of organisms that have not been completely accepted
- ex. (exemplar): example or specimen; plural abbreviated as exx.
- f. sp. (forma specialis): a special form adapted to a specific host; plural abbreviated as ff. spp.
- in coll. (in collectionem): in the collection, often followed by the name of a collection or museum
- indet. (indeterminans): undetermined, unidentified
- leg. (legit): he/she collected, often followed by the name of the collector
- nob. (nobis): by us, used to indicate that the writer(s) are the author(s) of a scientific name
- sensu: "in the sense of", used for different groups of organisms
- sp. (species): species (singular); plural also species, abbreviated as spp.
- sp. nov. (species nova): new species (singular); plural is species novae, abbreviated as spp. nov.
- ssp., subsp. (subspecies): subspecies (singular); plural is subspecies, abbreviated sspp. or subspp.
See also
- Glossary of scientific naming § Latin abbreviations
- List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions
- List of classical abbreviations
- List of ecclesiastical abbreviations
- List of Latin phrases
- Scribal abbreviation
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
- "Abbreviation" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. I (9th ed.). 1878. pp. 26–29.
- "Abbreviation" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 27–29.
External links
- "Common abbreviations in Latin inscriptions published in L'année épigraphique 1888–1993". Archived from the original on 11 April 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- "Linguists' Latin". Archived from the original on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- "Latin words and abbreviations". Archived from the original on 9 December 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- "What Latin abbreviations mean". Retrieved 16 April 2007.
- "Latin and Greek Elements in English". Retrieved 24 April 2021.
