What do the two mean?
2007-08-28 08:14:22 · 9 answers · asked by Trevor M 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It's actually ante meridiem and post meridiem, and they do mean before noon and after noon. I've read somewhere that 'meridian' is considered correct, as well, but for the life of me I can't figure out why that would be so.
2007-08-28 08:31:20 · answer #1 · answered by Lea A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The correct (original) meanings are "ante meridiem" and "post meridiem" which mean "before midday" and "after midday" respectively.
The mistaken usage of meridian has some legitimacy because meridian is another word for longitude (Greenwich, England is at the zero meridian, etc). So, "ante meridian" could be used to mean before the sun passes this meridian. However, this is a mix of Latin and English -- the original Latin term of ante meridiem and post meridiem is more proper.
2007-08-28 09:12:37 · answer #2 · answered by dansinger61 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ante meridian (before noon)
Post meridian (after noon)
Edit:
See Lea A's answer below
2007-08-28 08:16:33 · answer #3 · answered by dogsafire 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ante- and post-meridian, which refers to longitude/latitude (which is defined by geograhy) rather than time (which varies according to geography).
2007-08-28 08:49:18 · answer #4 · answered by tracymoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amplitude Modulation & Prime Minister
(OK, so that's not what you meant, but everyone already took the real answer.)
2007-08-28 08:22:07 · answer #5 · answered by Expat Mike 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
anti meridian and post meridian
before noon and after noon
2007-08-28 08:20:13 · answer #6 · answered by lizziepea 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
apres meridian
post meridian
2007-08-28 08:19:57 · answer #7 · answered by lucky star 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
am /is/ before noon/ pm/ is/ after noon
2007-08-28 09:07:09 · answer #8 · answered by hotdogsarefree 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
damn. dogsafire beat me to it.
2007-08-28 08:20:07 · answer #9 · answered by weasel bat 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋