SKIP TO CONTENT

requiescat in pace

/ˌrekwiˈɛskɑt ɪn ˈpɑtʃɛ/
IPA guide

You have probably seen the letters "R.I.P." on gravestones or spooky Halloween decorations. The abbreviation stands for the Latin phrase requiescat in pace, which in English means "rest in peace."

You may also see or hear the phrase requiescat in pace at funerals, in obituaries, or on memorials to those who have died. It is used as a prayer or wish for the soul of the departed to have serenity in the afterlife. In Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the narrator uses the phrase, but flipped — "In pace requiescat!" — at the end, after walling his rival up alive.

Definitions of requiescat in pace
  1. idiom
    rest in peace; abbreviated RIP and used to express the hope that the deceased person will experience peace after death
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘requiescat in pace'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family