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Glite Dictionary
ante meridiem

ante meridiem

6.3
Words written after a clock time to show it is before midday
  • adverb
  • /ˈæn.ti mɛr.ɪˌdiː.əm/
translation icon : a.m.
  • We are required to clock in by seven ante meridiem during the summer shift.

Examples

  • The train leaves at 10 ante meridiem every weekday.

  • Does the conference start at 9 ante meridiem?

  • Her doctor’s appointment is scheduled for nine ante meridiem.

  • Why is the event scheduled at 11 ante meridiem?

  • Her doctor’s appointment is scheduled for nine ante meridiem.

  • The train leaves at 10 ante meridiem every weekday.

  • We are required to clock in by seven ante meridiem during the summer shift.

Synonyms

a.m.
vsante meridiem
1.0

Used with a time to show it is before noon

is the full phrase rather than the short written form
A.M.
vsante meridiem
1.0

Occurs before 12 o'clock in the day when giving times

is the full phrase rather than the abbreviated written form
AM
vsante meridiem
1.0

During the time between midnight and noon

is the full phrase rather than the bare letter form
antemeridian
vsante meridiem
  • Formal
9.9

Happening before noon

is used as a time label rather than as a descriptor for events

Antonyms

post meridiem
5.3

The time from noon to midnight

Surface Forms

ante meridiem positive
a.m. positive

Morphology

ante + meridiem

The phrase literally combines antecedent parts: 'ante' (before) + 'meridiem' (midday/noon), so its meaning 'before midday' is directly and compositionally derivable from the constituents. Note that both elements are Latin borrowings and may be unfamiliar to a typical B1 learner, but given knowledge of the parts the expression is transparent.

Etymology

Ante meridiem comes from Latin words ante and meridiem, where ante means 'before' and meridiem means 'midday'. So, it is used with times to mean 'before midday', which is why we write a.m. for hours before 12:00.