Ph.B. {philosopliiw baccalaureus) , Bachelor of
Philosophy.
Ph.D. iphilosophicB doctor), Doctor of Philos-
ophy.
P.E., Protestant Episcopal.
Ph.G., Graduate Pharmacist.
P.L., Poet Laureate.
P.M. {post meridiem), After noon; postmas-
ter.
pp. {pianissimo) , Very softly.
P.P., Parish priest.
P.P.C. (Fr. pour prendre conge), To take
leave.
p., Page; pp., pages.
pro tem. {pro tempore), For the time.
pro.x. {proximo — mense understood), In the
next (month).
P.S. {post scriptum) , Postscript.
P.T.O., Please turn over.
Q., Query or question.
Q.C., Queen's Counsel.
Q.E.D. {quod erat demonstrandum). Which
was to be proved.
Q.E.F. {quod erat faciendum) , Which was to
be done.
Q.S. {qtiantum sufficit) , A sufficient quantity.
q.v. {quod vide). Which see.
R. {rex or regina) , King or queen. Also, R. =
Rtaumur.
R. or B {recipe). Take.
R.A., Royal Academician; Royal Artillery;
Royal Arch.
rail, {rallentando) . More slowly.
R.A.M., Royal Academy of Music.
R.C., Roman Catholic.
R.E., Royal Engineers.
R.I.P. {requiescat in pace). May he rest in"
peace.
rit. {ritardando) , More slowly.
R.M., Royal Marines.
R.N., Royal Navy.
R.S.V.P. (Fr. repondez s'il vous plait). Please
reply.
R.V., Revised version.
S., Saint; south: shilling; SS., saints.
sc. (soi'/icet) , Namely; understood.
sf. {sforzando) , With marked emphasis.
S.J., Society of .Jesus.
s.p. {sine prole). Without issue.
S.P.Q.R. {senatus populusque Romanus) , The
Senate and People of Rome.
sq. {sequens). The following; sqq. in the
plural.
Sr., Senior.
S.S., Steamship; Sunday school.
St., Saint; street.
S.T.D. {sanctce thcologiw doctor). Doctor of
Divinity.
S.T.P. {sanctre theologiw professor), Doctor
of Divinity.
sup. {supra), above.
s.v. {sub voce). Under the heading.
T.C.D., Trinity College, Dublin.
Twp., Township.
ult. (ultimo — mense understood), In the last
(month) .
XT. P., United Presbvterian.
U.S., United States."
U.S.A., United States of America: United
States Army.
U.S.N., United States Navy.
V.C., Victoria Cross; Vice Chancellor.
vs. {versus), Against.
Consult, for a reproduction of 13,000 abbreviations used in old Latin MSS., Campelli, Dizionario di Abhreiiaiure (Milan, 1899).
ABBREVIA'TIO PLAC'ITO'BUM (Lat., abridgment or abstract of pleas). A record of judicial decisions in the itinerant Court of the King's Bench (cMrta regis, q.v.) in the Norman period of English law. It is one of the earliest collections of judicial precedents in our law,
antedating the Year Books (q.v.). It was first published in 1811. See articles on Norman Law; Plea: Pleading; Master of the Rolls; and Report.
ABBRE'VIA'TORS. In the Papal Court, a
college of eleven prelates to whom the revision of
the papal bulls and other similar documents is
committed, and who sign them in the name of
the Cardinal Vice Chancellor. They date from
Pius II. ( 14.")8-li4) . and derive their name from
the fact that by means of traditional abbrevia-
tions they prepared a short minute of the decis-
ion, which they subsequently expanded into
proper form.
ABBT, iipt, Thomas (1738-66). A German
author, born at Ulm, educated at the University
of Halle, and professor of mathematics at Rin-
teln. He did much toward the improvement of
the language of his country. Of his books the
more important ai-e Vom Verdicnste (1765), and
Vom Tod fiir's Vatetland (1701).
ABCHERON, ab'shf-ron', or ABSHERON.
See Apsheron.
ABD, abd. In Arabic and in the Semitic languages in general, '"slave" or "servant." With the name of God, it enters into the composition of many proper names; as, Abd-Allali, "servant of Allan;" Abd al-Kader, seiv-
ant of the mighty one;" Abd al-Latif, "servant of
the gracious one," etc. In Hebrew, we have
such names as Abdeel, "servant of God,"' "Abdi,"
but also the form "Ebed," and "Ebed melech."
In Syriac and Assyrian we likewise have proper
names compounded with this word under the
forms Abad and Abdi respectively.
ABD ALLAH IBN ZUBAIR, abd ina 'b'n
soo'bar' (622-692). Ruler of Mecca. He was the
son of Zubair and nephew, by alliance, of the
Prophet. Believing himself more entitled to the
calipliate tlian Yazid, the son of the usurper, Abd
Allah began to struggle for .supremacy after All's
assassination. He seized Mecca, holding it against
Yazid, Caliph of Damascus. During the siege the
Kaaba was destroyed, but Yazid's death saved
the city from capture. Abd Allah was acknowl-
edged Caliph of Mecca, and rebuilt and restored
the city by 685. The caliphs of Damascus re-
'newed the war, and Mecca was again besieged,
and after a stubborn resistance was finally taken
by assault, and Abd Allah, who retreated within
the Kaaba. was slain.
ABD ALLAH IBN TASHFUR, tiish'fuor
(died 1058). The founder of the Almoravide sect
in Morocco, which in a short space of time,
through the propaganda of the sword, became
transformed into a temporal power, overran
northern Africa and conquered ilohammedaii
Spain. Though holding supreme avithority for a
long time, he was content with no other title
than that of "Theologian."
ABD-AL-LATIF, abd' al la-tef. See Abd-
il-Latif.