English
a.m.
A.m. comes from English meridiem ‘before noon’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- ‘on, onto’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂en-‘on, onto’root as named
- English1500–presentmeridiem‘before noon’
- Englishearliest quotation 1967a.m.
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂en-‘on, onto’root as named
- English1500–presentmeridiem‘before noon’
- Englishearliest quotation 1967a.m.
Earliest quotation: 1967, United States Travel Service, Plant Tours for International Visitors to the United States: “Greenfield … Monday thru Friday, 9 to 12 a.m.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- ‘on, onto’
Today it means
adv In the 12-hour period from midnight to noon (the first half of the day) when using the 12-hour clock.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- / a.m.