Requiem Aeternam
/ˈrɛkwi.ɛm eɪˈtɜːr.nɑːm/noun
A Latin phrase meaning “eternal rest,” traditionally used in the opening of Catholic funeral prayers and masses for the dead.
Did you know?The phrase comes from the opening words of the Latin Mass for the dead, where language itself was believed to help guide souls toward peace.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kwey-
“to rest, be quiet”
Latin
Latin
requies
“rest, repose, peace”
Late Latin
Latin
requiem aeternam
“eternal rest (in the funeral liturgy)”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Requiem
“the Mass for the dead, named from its opening word”
Modern English
English
requiem
“a mass for the dead; by extension, a song or work commemorating the dead”