obviously i know what they mean am= morning pm=night but what do they actually stand for?
2007-04-16 07:06:41 · 8 answers · asked by Heather 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
AM = Ante Meridian
PM = Post Meridian
A Meridian is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface running from the North Pole to the South Pole and back up the other side. In this context it refers to the meridian running through the spot on the earth's surface where the time is being taken. Ante means "before", so Ante Meridian (AM) is the time from when the sun crosses the meridian on the other side of the earth and BEFORE it crosses the meridian on where the time is being taken. Post Meridian (PM) means AFTER the sun crosses the meridian where the time is being taken until it crosses the meridian on the other side of the globe.
2007-04-16 07:20:13 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
“AM” stands for the Latin phrase Ante Meridiem —which means “before noon”—and “PM” stands for Post Meridiem : “after noon.” Although digital clocks routinely label noon “12:00 PM” you should avoid this expression not only because it is incorrect, but because many people will imagine you are talking about midnight instead. The same goes for “12:00 AM.” Just say or write “noon” or “midnight” when you mean those precise times.
2016-04-01 04:26:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
AM stands for Ante Meridian and PM stands for Post Meridian.
2007-04-16 07:09:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A.M. or the Latin form Ante Meridiem which stands out for before midday or before twelve o clock noon is what A.M. stands for and P.M. standing for afternoon or "after midday" is the definite form of P.M. Now Don't confuse A.M with (after morning) and P.M. with (past midnight) as some people confuse it because if P.M. stand out for past midnight (that wouldn't really make sense) as an example.
2015-08-20 10:23:43 · answer #4 · answered by Kristian 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ante-meridiem and post meridiem. Before, ante , the sun reaches the point directly over you, it is the morning. After, post, the sun has passed the point directly over you it is evening.
2007-04-16 07:13:46 · answer #5 · answered by Kender_fury 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ante Meridiem = a.m. (Before midday)
Post Meridiem = p.m. (Past midday)
2007-04-16 07:10:52 · answer #6 · answered by Charlie 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
am=Ante Meridiem latin for before noon
pm=Post meridiem latin for after noon
2007-04-16 07:10:58 · answer #7 · answered by richard u 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
ante meridiem
(a.m., from Latin, literally "before the middle of the day", idiomatically "approaching midday")
post meridiem
(p.m., "past midday")
2007-04-16 07:10:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋