requiescat

Everyday

1. (Latin, church) Requiescat means «may he or she rest». It comes from the prayer «Requiescat in pace», «May he or she rest in peace», said for a person who has died. tree →
2. The short form RIP, now read as «rest in peace», comes from it. tree →

In the lessons

In church life and on old gravestones, requiescat or RIP is written for the dead; Christians believe it is a prayer that the person be at peace with God. It is Latin, not ordinary English. Phrases: requiescat in pace, RIP.

Examples

• «Requiescat in pace» was carved on the old grave. tree →
• RIP stands for «requiescat in pace». tree →
• The priest said «requiescat in pace» at the funeral. tree →
• Requiescat is Latin for «may he rest». tree →
• On the gravestone it said: RIP. tree →
• People write RIP when someone dies. tree →

Note

Latin, not an English word. Say rek-wee-ES-kat. Used respectfully. «RIP» is used in English today, sometimes jokingly, but on real deaths it should be respectful.