Words Carved in Stone
Read the initials as the full set words.
How It Works
| Initials | Full words | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| S.P.Q.R. | senatus populusque Romanus | the Senate and the people of Rome |
| D.M. | dis manibus | to the spirits of the dead |
| R.I.P. | requiescat in pace | may he or she rest in peace |
| A.D. | anno Domini | in the year of the Lord |
| I.N.R.I. | Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum | Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews |
D.M. stands at the top of many gravestones. Roman dates also use a.d., which means ante diem, so read the groups around it before you choose.
One stone may carry several set groups. Read the whole line before you decide what each group means.
Examples (5)
- Senatus populusque Romanus.
The Senate and the people of Rome.
On buildings and coins this is cut as S.P.Q.R.
- Dis manibus.
To the spirits of the dead.
Cut as D.M. at the top of a gravestone. Dis is the dative plural of deus, and manibus is the dative plural of manes, the spirits of the dead.
- Requiescat in pace.
May he or she rest in peace.
R.I.P. Requiescat is a present subjunctive that expresses a wish.
- Anno Domini MMXXVI.
In the year of the Lord 2026.
A.D. before a Roman numeral. Anno is the ablative of time.
- Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum.
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
John 19:19, the words on the sign over the cross, cut as I.N.R.I.
Common Mistakes
Reading R.I.P. as an indicative.
Requiescit in pace.Requiescat in pace.Requiescit in pace is good Latin for He rests in peace. R.I.P. is a wish, so it needs the subjunctive requiescat.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Inscriptions use abbreviations and Roman numerals.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Words Carved in Stone in Bubblegum
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