2007-01-09 09:11:47 · 9 answers · asked by Shronda C 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
According to both NASA and the British Royal Observatory, a.m. stands for ante-meridiem, which is from Latin for "before the Sun has crossed the line." And p.m. means post-meridiem, which is from Latin for "after the Sun has crossed the line." But what line are they talking about? If you look on most world maps, you'll see horizontal latitude lines and vertical longitude lines. These lines allow you to pinpoint any place on Earth. The longitude lines are also called meridians. So if you're standing at a meridian line and the Sun is directly overhead, it's noon at that spot. Before it arrives overhead, it's a.m. After the sun is overhead, it's p.m. Our Time category has lots more information about how time is calculated!
2007-01-09 09:19:55 · answer #1 · answered by Luis B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ante-Meridiem = Before Midday. 12:00:01- 11:59:59
12 = Noon
Post-Meridiem = After Midday. 12:00:01- "23:59:59"
24:00:00 = Midnight
From Latin.
"Meridian" is a word meaning of or at Noon, but the 'iem' is used to distinguish the two, as 'meridian' is also a geographical term.
2007-01-09 17:19:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A.M. abbreviation ante meridiem (before noon)
P.M. abbreviation post meridiem (after noon)
Check web site I listed. Hopes this helps.
2007-01-09 17:19:15 · answer #3 · answered by Yankees Fan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AM = Ante Meridian
PM = Post Meridian
2007-01-09 17:18:47 · answer #4 · answered by Outdoorsman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a.m. means from 12 at midnight till 12 o'clock (noon)
p.m. from 12 noon till 12 midnight
2007-01-09 17:16:49 · answer #5 · answered by loulou 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ante means before and post means after. meridian refers to the longitude where you live or where the sun is at noon in your time zone.
2007-01-09 17:51:14 · answer #6 · answered by wendy_da_goodlil_witch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A.M. Latin ante meridiem, meaning “before noon."
P.M. post merīdiem, meaning "after noon."
2007-01-09 17:17:43 · answer #7 · answered by Broadsword 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
A.M. is in the morning and P.M. is in the evening.
2007-01-09 17:16:37 · answer #8 · answered by caroline j 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
am is anti meridian
pm is post meridian
2007-01-09 17:20:43 · answer #9 · answered by Manan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋