Definition

Noun: A short prayer, typically inscribed on a tombstone, asking for God to grant a deceased person eternal rest and peace.

Usage

Requiescat is a formal, literary term used almost exclusively in the context of death and remembrance. It is most commonly seen in the Latin phrase "Requiescat in pace" (often abbreviated as R.I.P.), meaning "May he/she rest in peace." The word itself functions as a noun naming this specific type of supplication.

Examples

• The simple headstone bore only the words
• The poet concluded his elegy with a heartfelt for his departed friend.
• Ancient tombstones often feature a as a final blessing for the deceased.

Advanced Usage

• "Requiescat in pace" (R.I.P.): The full, traditional Latin phrase meaning "May he/she rest in peace." This is the most frequent context for the word.
  • The family chose the inscription "Requiescat in pace" for their grandfather's grave.

Variants and Related Words

• Requiem (noun): A Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead; also, a musical composition for such a Mass. While a is a full ceremony or piece of music, a is specifically the brief prayer or wish for rest.
• R.I.P.: The common abbreviation for .

Synonyms

• Prayer for the dead: A more general term.
• Intercession for the departed: A formal phrase for a prayer on behalf of someone who has died.

Notes on Meaning

This word is a direct borrowing from Latin, where "requiescat" is a verb form meaning "may he/she rest." In English, it is fossilized as a noun referring to the expression containing that verb. Its use in modern English outside of the fixed phrase "R.I.P." is rare and highly literary.

Noun

1. a prayer for the repose of the soul of a dead person