# Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Abbreviation

See also Abbreviation on Wikipedia; Abbreviation and Lists of Latin, classical, and English abbreviations at Wikipedia; Abbreviation in the 11th Edition; and the disclaimer.
​Abbreviation, a letter or group of letters, taken from a word or words, and employed to represent them for the sake of brevity. Abbreviations, both of single words and of phrases, having a meaning more or less fixed and recognised, are common in ancient writings and inscriptions, and very many are in use at the present time. A distinction is to be observed between abbreviations and the contractions that are frequently to be met with in old manuscripts, and even in early printed books, whereby letters are dropped out here and there, or particular collocations of letters represented by somewhat arbitrary symbols. The commonest form of abbreviation is the substitution for a word of its initial letter; but, with a view to prevent ambiguity, one or more of the other letters are frequently added. Letters are often doubled to indicate a plural or a superlative.
I. Classical Abbreviations.—The following list contains a selection from the abbreviations that occur in the writings and inscriptions of the Romans:—
II. Mediæval Abbreviations.—Of the different kinds of abbreviations in use in the middle ages, the following are examples:—
| A.M. | Ave Maria. |
| B.P. | Beatus Paulus, Beatus Petrus. |
| CC. | Carissimus (also plur. Carissimi), Clarissimus, Circum. |
| D. | Deus, Dominicus, Dux. |
| D.N.PP. | Dominus noster Papa. |
| FF. | Felicissimus, Fratres, Pandectæ (prob. for Gr. π). |
| I.C. or I.X.Jesus Christus. ||
| I.D.N. | In Dei nomine. |
| KK. | Karissimus (or -mi). |
| MM. | Magistri, Martyres, Matrimonium, Meritissimus. |
| O.S.B. | Ordinis Sancti Benedicti. |
| PP. | Papa, Patres, Piissimus. |
| R.F. | Rex Francorum. |
| R.P.D. | Reverendissimus Pater Dominus. |
| S.C.M. | Sacra Cæsarea Majestas. |
| S.M.E. | Sancta Mater Ecclesia. |
| S.M.M. | Sancta Mater Maria. |
| S.R.I. | Sanctum Romanum Imperium. |
| S.V. | Sanctitas Vestra, Sancta Virgo. |
| V. | Venerabilis, Venerandus. |
| V.R.P. | Vestra Reverendissima Paternitas. |
III. Abbreviations now in use.—The import of these will often be readily understood from the connection in which they occur. There is no occasion to explain here the common abbreviations used for Christian names, books of Scripture, months of the year, points of the compass, grammatical and mathematical terms, or familiar titles, like “Mr,” &c.
The ordinary abbreviations, now or recently in use, may be conveniently classified under the following headings:—
1. Abbreviated Titles and Designations.
| A.A. | Associate of Arts. |
| A.B. | Able-bodied seaman. |
| A.M. | (Artium Magister), Master of Arts. |
| A.R.A. | Associate of the Royal Academy. |
| A.R.S.A.Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy. ||
| B.A. | Bachelor of Arts. |
| B.C.L. | Bachelor of Civil Law. |
| B.D. | Bachelor of Divinity. |
| B.LL. | Bachelor of Laws. |
| B.Sc. | Bachelor of Science. |
| C. | Chairman. |
| C.A. | Chartered Accountant. |
| C.B. | Companion of the Bath. |
| C.E. | Civil Engineer. |
| C.M. | (Chirurgiæ Magister), Master in Surgery. |
| C.M.G. | Companion of St Michael and St George. |
| C.S.I. | Companion of the Star of India. |
| D.C.L. | Doctor of Civil Law. |
| D.D. | Doctor of Divinity. |
| D.Lit. | Doctor of Literature. |
| D.M. | Doctor of Medicine [Oxford]. |
| D.Sc. | Doctor of Science. |
| Ebor. | (Eboracensis), of York. |
| F.C.S. | Fellow of the Chemical Society. |
| F.D. | (Fidei Defensor), Defender of the Faith. |
| F.F.P.S. | Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians & Surgeons [Glasgow.] |
| F.G.S. | Fellow of the Geological Society. |
| F.K.Q.C.P.I.Fellow of King and Queen's College of Physicians in Ireland. ||
| F.L.S. | Fellow of the Linnæan Society. |
| F.M. | Field Marshal. |
| F.P.S. | Fellow of the Philological Society. |
| F.R.A.S. | Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
| F.R.C.P. | Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. |
| F.R.C.P.E.Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. ||
| F.R.C.S. | Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. |
| F.R.G.S. | Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. |
| F.R.S. | Fellow of the Royal Society. |
| F.R.S.E. | Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. |
| F.R.S.L. | Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. |
| F.S.A. | Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. |
| F.S.S. | Fellow of the Statistical Society. |
| F.Z.S. | Fellow of the Zoological Society. |
| G.C.B. | Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. |
| G.C.H. | Knight Grand Cross of Hanover. |
| G.C.M.G.Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George. ||
| G.C.S.I. | Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India. |
| H.R.H. | His (or Her) Royal Highness. |
| J.P. | Justice of the Peace. |
| J.U.D. | (Juris utriusque Doctor), Doctor of Civil and Canon Law. |
| K.C.S.I. | Knight Commander of the Star of India. |
| K.C.B. | Knight Commander of the Bath. |
| K.G. | Knight of the Garter. |
| K.P. | Knight of St Patrick. |
| K.T. | Knight of the Thistle. |
| L.A.H. | Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Hall. |
| L.C.J. | Lord Chief Justice. |
| LL.B. | (Legum Baccalaureus), Bachelor of Laws. |
| LL.D. | (Legum Doctor), Doctor of Laws. |
| LL.M. | (Legum Magister), Master of Laws. |
| L.R.C.P.Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. ||
| L.R.C.S.Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons. ||
| L.S.A. | Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Society. |
| M.A. | Master of Arts. |
| M.B. | (Medicinæ Baccalaureus), Bachelor of Medicine. |
| M.C. | Member of Congress. |
| M.D. | (Medicinæ Doctor), Doctor of Medicine. |
| M.P. | Member of Parliament. |
| M.R.C.P.Member of the Royal College of Physicians. ||
| M.R.I.A.Member of the Royal Irish Academy. ||
| Mus. B. | Bachelor of Music. ​ |
| Mus. D. | Doctor of Music. |
| N.P. | Notary Public. |
| P.C. | Privy Councillor. |
| Ph.D. | (Philosophiæ Doctor), Doctor of Philosophy. |
| P.P. | Parish Priest. |
| P.R.A. | President of the Royal Academy. |
| Q.C. | Queen's Counsel. |
| R. | (Rex, Regina), King, Queen. |
| R.A. | Royal Academician. Royal Artillery. |
| R.A.M. | Royal Academy of Music. |
| R.E. | Royal Engineers. |
| Reg. Prof.Regius Professor. ||
| R.M. | Royal Marines. |
| R.N. | Royal Navy. |
| S. or St. | Saint. |
| S.S.C. | Solicitor before the Supreme Courts [of Scotland]. |
| S.T.P. | (Sacrosanctæ Theologiæ Professor), Professor of Sacred Theology. |
| V.C. | Vice-Chancellor. Victoria Cross. |
| V.G. | Vicar-General. |
| V.S. | Veterinary Surgeon. |
| W.S. | Writer to the Signet [in Scotland]. Equivalent to Attorney. |
2. Abbreviations denoting Monies, Weights, and Measures:—
| ac. | acre. | L., £, or I.(libra), pound (money). | L., £, or I.(libra), pound (money). |
| bar. | barrel. | lb. or ℔.(libra), pound (weight). | lb. or ℔.(libra), pound (weight). |
| bus. | bushel. | m. or mi.mile; minute. | m. or mi.mile; minute. |
| c. | cent. | . | minim. |
| c. (or cub.) ft. &c.cubic foot, &c. | c. (or cub.) ft. &c.cubic foot, &c. | mo. | month. |
| cwt. | hundredweight. | na. | nail. |
| d. | (denarius), penny. | oz. | ounce. |
| deg. | degree. | pk. | peck. |
| dr. | drachm or dram. | po. | pole. |
| dwt. | pennyweight. | pt. | pint. |
| f. | franc. | q. | (quadrans), farthing. |
| fl. | florin. | qr. | quarter. |
| ft. | foot. | qt. | quart. |
| fur. | furlong. | ro. | rood. |
| gal. | gallon. | Rs. | rupees. |
| gr. | grain. | s. or / | (solidus), shilling. |
| h. or hr.hour. | h. or hr.hour. | s. or sec.second. | s. or sec.second. |
| hhd. | hogshead. | sc. or scr.scruple. | sc. or scr.scruple. |
| in. | inch. | sq. ft. &c.square foot, &c. | sq. ft. &c.square foot, &c. |
| kilo. | kilometre. | st. | stone. |
| | | yd. | yard. |
3. Miscellaneous Abbreviations.
(See Grævius's Thesaurus Antiquitatum, 1694, sqq.; Nicolai's Tractatus de Siglis Veterum; Mommsen's Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, 1863, sqq.; Natalis de Wailly's Paléographie, Paris, 1838; Alph. Chassant's Paléographie, 1854, and Doctionnaire des Abréviations, 3d ed., 1866. A manual of the abbreviations in current use is a desideratum.)
* ↑ Describing the function of the triumviri monetales.
* ↑ An archbishop or bishop, in writing his signature, substitutes for his surname the name of his see; thus the prelates of Canterbury, York, Oxford, London, &c., subscribe themselves A. C. Cantuar., W. Ebor., J. F. Oxon., J. London, &c.
* ↑ Characters, not properly abbreviations, are used in the same way; e.g., ° ' " for "degrees, minutes, seconds," (circular measure) ℥, ℨ, ℈ for "ounces, drachms, scruples." ℥ is probably to be traced to the written form of the z in "oz"
* ↑ These forms (as well as $, the symbol for the American dollar) are placed before their amounts.
* ↑ It is given to Austria to rule the whole earth. The device of Austria, first adopted by Frederick III.
* ↑ "Per cent." is often signified by %, a form traceable to "100."