The term ante Christum natum[1] (Latin for 'before Christ [was] born'), usually abbreviated to a. Chr. n., a.Ch.n., a.C.n., A.C.N., or ACN, denotes the years before the birth of Jesus Christ.[2] It is a Latin equivalent to the English "BC" ("before Christ"). The phrase ante Christum natum is also seen shortened to ante Christum ("before Christ"), similarly abbreviated to a. Chr., A. C. or AC.[3][4][5] A related phrase, p. Chr. n., p. Ch. n., or post Christum natum complements a. Ch. n. and is equivalent to Anno Domini (AD).[6]
In English, these phrases are rare and AC, ACN, and ante Christum natum are not in the Chicago Manual of Style (14th edition), the American Heritage Dictionary (3rd edition), or P. Kenneth Seidelmann's Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac (1992, University Science Books). In other European languages, such as Italian ("a.c." or "a.C." for avanti Cristo), a vernacular version is the standard term.
The Anglo-Saxon historian Bede used the Latin phrase ante incarnationis dominicae tempus ("before the time of the Incarnation of the Lord") in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People) (Book 1, Chapter 2) of 731 PCN, and thereby became the first author to describe a year as being before Christ.[7] Both Dionysius Exiguus and Saint Bede, who was familiar with the work of the former, regarded Anno Domini 1 as beginning on the date of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, yet "the distinction between Incarnation and Nativity was not drawn until the late 9th century, when in some places the Incarnation epoch was identified with Christ's conception, i. e., the Annunciation on March 25".[8]
^Example from LogosLibrary.eu 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine.
^The full phrase may be (please verify) ante vero incarnationis dominicae tempus anno sexagesimo ("in fact in the sixtieth year before the time of the Lord's incarnation"), which is quoted from the first sentence of Book 1, Chapter 2.
Blackburn, Bonnie; Holford-Strevens, Leofranc (2003) [1999]. The Oxford companion to the year (Reprinted ed.). Oxford.
November 23, 2023
ante, christum, natum, redirects, here, other, uses, term, ante, christum, natum, latin, before, christ, born, usually, abbreviated, denotes, years, before, birth, jesus, christ, latin, equivalent, english, before, christ, phrase, ante, christum, natum, also, . A C N redirects here For other uses see ACN The term ante Christum natum 1 Latin for before Christ was born usually abbreviated to a Chr n a Ch n a C n A C N or ACN denotes the years before the birth of Jesus Christ 2 It is a Latin equivalent to the English BC before Christ The phrase ante Christum natum is also seen shortened to ante Christum before Christ similarly abbreviated to a Chr A C or AC 3 4 5 A related phrase p Chr n p Ch n or post Christum natum complements a Ch n and is equivalent to Anno Domini AD 6 In English these phrases are rare and AC ACN and ante Christum natum are not in the Chicago Manual of Style 14th edition the American Heritage Dictionary 3rd edition or P Kenneth Seidelmann s Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac 1992 University Science Books In other European languages such as Italian a c or a C for avanti Cristo a vernacular version is the standard term The Anglo Saxon historian Bede used the Latin phrase ante incarnationis dominicae tempus before the time of the Incarnation of the Lord in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum Ecclesiastical History of the English People Book 1 Chapter 2 of 731 PCN and thereby became the first author to describe a year as being before Christ 7 Both Dionysius Exiguus and Saint Bede who was familiar with the work of the former regarded Anno Domini 1 as beginning on the date of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ yet the distinction between Incarnation and Nativity was not drawn until the late 9th century when in some places the Incarnation epoch was identified with Christ s conception i e the Annunciation on March 25 8 See also editChronology of Jesus Common Era List of ecclesiastical abbreviations Nativity of JesusReferences edit Sometimes incorrectly spelled Ante Christus Natum British Library manuscripts catalogue Archived May 21 2011 at the Wayback Machine General Chronology in the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913 Webster s New World College Dictionary Fourth Edition Webster s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1983 Example from LogosLibrary eu Archived 2011 07 20 at the Wayback Machine The full phrase may be please verify ante vero incarnationis dominicae tempus anno sexagesimo in fact in the sixtieth year before the time of the Lord s incarnation which is quoted from the first sentence of Book 1 Chapter 2 Blackburn amp Holford Strevens 2003 p 881 Sources editBlackburn Bonnie Holford Strevens Leofranc 2003 1999 The Oxford companion to the year Reprinted ed Oxford Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ante Christum natum amp oldid 1171327080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
