- ad patres - "To the fathers", dead or gone away.
- anno aetatis suae (A.A.S.) - In the year of her/his age
- anno Domini (A.D.) - In the year of our Lord
- annos vixit (a.v.) - He/she lived [so many years]
- beatae memoriae (B.M.) - Of blessed memory
- Dei gratia - By the grace of God
- Dei gratias - Thanks be to God
- Deo, Optimo, Maximo (D.O.M.) - To God, the Best, the Greatest (motto of the Benedictine order)
- Domino, Optimo, Maximo (D.O.M.) - The Lord, the Best, the Greatest.(alternate motto)
- Gloria in Excelsis Deo - Glory be to God, the Most High
- hic iacet or hic jacet (H.I.) - Here lies (Ancient Latin has no letter "J": the letter was added later)
- hic iacet sepultus (H.I.S.) - Here lies buried
- hic sepultus (H.S.) - Here is buried
- Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum (I.N.R.I.) - Jesus Christ, King of the Jews
- in hoc salus (I.H.S.) - There is safety in this.
- in hoc signo spes mea (I.H.S.) - In this sign (the cross of Christ) is my hope
- in hoc signos vinces (I.H.S.) - By this sign you will conquer.
- laus Deo - Praise be to God
- memento mori - "Remember you must die".
- obiit (ob.) - He/she died
- requiescat in pace (R.I.P.) - May he/she rest in peace
- requiescant in pace (R.I.P.) - May they rest in peace
- requiescit in pace (R.I.P.) - He/she rest in peace
- Verbi Dei Minister (V.D.M.) - Minister of the Word of God
Published in
Reading Gravestones
