post meridiem
/'poust,mistris/ Cách viết khác : (pip_emma) /pip'emə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- Between noon and midnight: Used to specify that a time occurs in the 12-hour period from 12:00 noon to 11:59 at night. It is the counterpart to "a.m." (ante meridiem).
Usage
- The abbreviation "p.m." (or "P.M.") is almost always used instead of the full Latin phrase "post meridiem."
- It is placed after the numeral(s) indicating the hour.
- It is used with the 12-hour clock format to avoid ambiguity.
Examples
- Adverb:
- The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
- The store closes at 9:30 p.m.
- Let's have dinner at 7 p.m.
Advanced Usage
- "12 p.m.": This specifically denotes noon (12:00 midday), not midnight. Midnight is denoted as "12 a.m." This convention is used to distinguish noon from midnight clearly within the 12-hour system.
- The deadline is 12 p.m. (noon) tomorrow.
Variants and Related Words
- p.m. / P.M.: The standard abbreviation for "post meridiem."
- ante meridiem (a.m. / A.M.): Meaning "before noon"; used for the period from midnight to just before noon.
Synonyms
- Afternoon and evening: These are general time descriptors but are not precise synonyms. "P.m." is a technical term for the entire second half of the 12-hour day cycle.
Notes on Meaning
- The term is directly from Latin, meaning "after midday."
- It refers strictly to the time period, not to the quality of light (e.g., daylight or darkness). For example, 5 p.m. could be light or dark depending on the season and location.
Adjective
- after noon
Adverb
- between noon and midnight
- let's meet at 8 P.M.